U5L4: Social Networks

• social structure that exists between actors-- individuals or organization

  social networks
• indicates the way that people and organizations are connected through various social familiarities, from casual acquaintance to close familial bonds

  social networks
• social networks are composed of:

  
  

  • nodes
  • ties (weak and strong ties)
• this is the person/organization participating in the network


  node
• various types of connections between these nodes and are assessed in terms of strength. it has two types: weak and strong


  ties
• study of social networks

  social network analysis or social network theory
• operate from familial to national level. plays a critical role in determining the ways problems are solved, orgs are run, degree to which individuals succeed in achieving their goals

  social networks
• study of how people, organizations, or groups interact with other inside their networks

  social network theory
• to understand the social network theory: examine the individual pieces, starting with the largest element (networks), working down to the smallest (actors)
• this theory argues that individual traits and characteristics usually presumed to have significance actually matter far less than an individual's relationship and ties to other actors in a network

  social network theory
• critics argue that this theory/view diminishes the power and agency of the individual. but despite this, it's studied because of their influence on individuals

  social network theory
• seen as the basic tool individuals use to connect to society

  social networks
• there are three types of social networks:

  
  

  1. ego centric networks
  2. socio centric networks
  3. open system networks
• this type of social network is connected with a single node or individual. like you (node), connected to all your close friends

  
  

  ego centric network
• this type of social network is a closed network. like children in a classroom, workers in an organization

  socio centric networks
• this type of social network has boundary lines that are not clearly defined. because of this, this network is considered the most difficult to study. like america's elite class, connect between corporations, chain of influences of a particular decision


  open system networks
• this is considered the fourth pillar of democracy

  social media or media