Social Network Analysis and Psychological Research

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to outline the social network approach, and to demonstrate its value to psychologists. Social network analysis is a distinct research approach within the social and behavioural sciences. It is distinct because it is relational in nature. Its theoretical approach, methodology, and statistical tests are relational. Dedicated software packages are used for the analysis and visualisation of social networks. This approach is of value to psychologists, if data on interacting individuals, and the social networks they form, would be more productive than data on individuals alone, in answering their research questions. The paper discusses similarities and differences between the social network approach and conventional research methods, and demonstrates its value to psychologists using examples from the social network literature. The reader is guided to related websites for information on membership of the professional body, relevant software, international conferences, and scholars in the social network community.