Relationships and the pattern of relationships have a large and varied influence on both individual and group action. The fundamental distinction of social network analysis research is that relationships are of paramount importance in explaining behavior. Because of this, social network analysis offers many exciting tools and techniques for research and practice in a wide variety of medical and public health situations including organizational improvements, understanding risk behaviors, coordinating coalitions, and the delivery of health care services. This book provides an introduction to the major theories, methods, models, and findings of social network analysis research and application. In three sections, it presents a comprehensive overview of the topic; first in a survey of its historical and theoretical foundations, then in practical descriptions of the variety of methods currently in use, and finally in a discussion of its specific applications for behavior change in a public health context. Throughout, the text has been kept clear, concise, and comprehensible, with short mathematical formulas for some key indicators or concepts. Researchers and students alike will find it an invaluable resource for understanding and implementing social network analysis in their own practice.
Pt. I Models
1 Introduction 3
2 History 26
3 Methods 41
4 Ego- and Personal-Network Effects 61
Pt. II Measures
5 Centrality 81
6 Groups 100
7 Positions 114
8 Network-Level Measures 128
Pt. III Applications
9 Exponential Random Graph Models, P* and Actor Oriented Models 151
10 Diffusion of Innovations 172
11 Network Interventions 196
12 Summary 219
Appendix A Glossary 239
Appendix B Sample Sociometric Survey 241
Appendix C Sample Egocentric Survey 243
Appendix D Centrality Scores for Network in Figure 1-1 245
Appendix E Input Files (Network and Attribute) for the Network in Figure 1-1 247
References 251
Author Index 269
Subject Index 273
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