300254 Personal Network Analysis (BS) (SoSe 2015)

The aim of this MA course is to provide students with an understanding of what personal networks are and how they can design and perform personal network research. The course is a mix of lectures and computer sessions. They are expected to give a presentation outlining a research design in which personal networks are integrated in a project in their field of interest, and to participate actively in class discussions. For obtaining credits, they should further complete and report on two short computer assignments.

By the end of the course, participants should understand:
• For what aims personal network analysis has been used
• How to compare and critique different methods for measuring personal networks
• How to develop a research design for testing personal network effects
• How to collect personal network data with paper-and-pencil and CAPI methods
• How to visualize personal network data
• How to analyze personal network data

Bibliography

Required readings:
Chua, V., J. Madej, & B. Wellman (2011). Personal Communities: The World According To Me. In J. Scott & P. J. Carrington (Eds), The SAGE Handbook of Social Network Analysis, pp. 101-115. London: Sage Publications.
Bidart, C. & J. Charbonneau (2011). How to Generate Personal Networks: Issues and Tools for a Sociological Perspective. Field Methods, 23 (3), 266-286.