Network Science

New article: Networks in Public Administration in PMR

~ Ines Mergel ~ Leave a comment

CoverSheet PMR articleMy co-authors Jesse Lecy (GSU), Hans Peter Schmitz (SU) and I have published an article in Public Management Review:

Lecy, J., Mergel, I., Schmitz, H. P. (2013): Networks in Public Administration, published online DOI:10.1080/14719037.2012.743577, in: Public Management Review. [Link to pre-publication version on SSRN]

Here is the abstract:

Network-focused research in public administration has expanded rapidly over the past two decades. This rapid growth has created come confusion about terminology and approaches to research in the field. We organize the network literature in public administration using compact citation networks to identify coherent subdomains focused on (1) policy formation, (2) governance and (3) policy implementation. We trace how these domains differ in their approach to defining the role of networks, relationships and actors and to what extent the articles apply formal network analysis techniques. Based on a subsequent content analysis of the sample articles, we identify promising research avenues focused on the wider adoption of methods derived from social network analysis and the conditions under which networks actually deliver improved results.

Please email me in case you want to read the article!

SNA in Social Sciences – Article in Science

~ Ines Mergel ~ Leave a comment

Network Analysis in the Social Sciences , Science

Abstract: Over the past decade, there has been an explosion of interest in
network research across the physical and social sciences. For social
scientists, the theory of networks has been a gold mine, yielding
explanations for social phenomena in a wide variety of disciplines from
psychology to economics. Here, we review the kinds of things that social
scientists have tried to explain using social network analysis and provide
a nutshell description of the basic assumptions, goals, and explanatory
mechanisms prevalent in the field. We hope to contribute to a dialogue
among researchers from across the physical and social sciences who share a
common interest in understanding the antecedents and consequences of
network phenomena.

* [31] Network Analysis in the Social Sciences, Stephen P. Borgatti, Ajay
Mehra, Daniel J. Brass, Giuseppe Labianca, 2009/02/13, DOI:
10.1126/science.1165821, Science Vol. 323. no. 5916, pp. 892 – 895 [31]

http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1165821

Networking (Social) Science Networks

~ Ines Mergel ~ 2 Comments

During the last three weeks, I have attended two different conferences – both focused entirely on (Social) Networks: First, I went to Greece to attend the International Conference for Social Network Analysts (main audience/attendance: social scientists) and I am currently blogging from the NetScience conference in New York in the Hall of Science (main audience: scientists).

I talked to a lot of people and listend to a lot of talks at both conferences and I noticed a couple of interesting things:

  1. Researchers in all fields, natural and social sciences are working on (social) networks and within their specific fields they are located in a very specific niche within their own discipline. This is reflected for example in the fact, that a lot of researchers feel obligated to explain what a social network is and what the definition of concepts such as centrality are.
  2. The basic concepts and analysis methods are the same across all disciplines, but we all use different language to describe what we are doing.
  3. Researchers in different fields have different needs for analyzing and visualizing their network data and those who have the abilities to do so are creating/programming their own visualization and analysis tools or libraries. This seems to be an exploding area and I see a potential to synchronize the different needs and tools across disciplines.
  4. Academic disciplines on (social) network research are largely disconnected and innovation is occurring within the disciplines, but usually not across disciplines. It seems as if the wheel is reinvented, but because academic disciplines are isolated and siloed the overall network science field is extremely innovative for its specific audiences.