IS41510

Purpose:
Social Networks Online and Offline: Spatializing Social Media introduces students to concepts, theories, and methods from social network analysis and their application to online and offline social networks. The module covers the rationale of social network analysis which states that relationships, more than individual and independent attributes, are critical to understanding social behaviour. The course is structured around the differences and similarities observed in online (e.g., social media activity) and physical social networks (such as family and friend relationships). Students will be introduced to a range of networks, including friendship networks, political discussion networks, social support networks, organizational networks, and online social networks. The module draws from Dr Bastos’ research mapping online social networks to geographically situated communities (Spatializing Social Media: Social Networks Online and Offline, Routledge: 2021).

Pre-requisites:
• Background in sociology or social sciences, including anthropology, communication, economics, geography, information sciences, linguistics, political science, and psychology
• Familiarity with algorithms and computational social sciences
• Knowledge of graphs and familiarity with probability distribution and random variables
• Familiarity with social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Values and attitudes:
• Students are expected to show respect for colleagues attending the module who might lack familiarity with social network analysis.
• Students are expected to correctly reference scholarship and display uncompromising adherence to good academic practice.

Skills:
The module takes a non-mathematical approach to social networks, but students will benefit from having been introduced to graph theory and computer routines for analysis and visualization of social networks.