Social Networks: From Graph Theory to Relational Sociology

Thinking in terms of networks is a powerful way to bridge the theoretical and empirical gap between micro-contexts and macro-patterns, in both directions. For example, an organizational culture emerges through interactions of individuals within the formal and informal social networks of the organization. But once established, such a culture can determine the nature of interactions between individuals. Theories of social capital, influence, power and relational sociology speak to these types of problems; social network analysis provides tools to approach them rigorously. This course will have four modules designed to make you a confident creator and skeptical consumer of social network research. We'll start with definitions and fundamental results from graph theory. We'll then situate social networks within sociological (and adjacent) theory before covering some approaches for (and challenges of) collecting and working with empirical network data. Finally, we'll discuss contemporary research around social networks within organizational contexts and future directions.