MICHAEL T. HEANEY UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AUGUST 31, HOUR LESSON The Basics of Network Computing

Plan for the Afternoon Choosing a Network Program Working with Network Data Basic network statistics Visualization

Principal Tasks of Network Computing Visualization of Networks Calculation of Descriptive Statistics Advanced Network Analysis (e.g., ERGM) When considering which statistical package to use, consider which of the above tasks your work will focus on.

UCINet Operates well in the familiar windows environment, but may be difficult to use with Apple computers. Allows calculation of most standard network statistics, but is less adept at handling advanced analysis (e.g., ERGM). Point-and-click approach is relatively easy to learn, but it can be a bit clunky. Available here:

Statnet in R Operates well in both Windows and Apple computing environments Performs both basic and advanced network analyses Users can develop own network analysis routines Steep learning curve Available here:

Some Other Packages MelNet – Specializes in Exponential Random Graph Models. Available: Pajek – Specializes in large network analysis. Available: SoNIA – Visualizing Dynamic Networks. Available: And more…..

UCINet A good place to start training even if you are going to shift to another program.

Importing Data Simplest approach is to read an Excel file. 1. Open UCINet 2. Click on Spreadsheet Icon 3. File  Open  Excel Files  Filename.xlsx 4. In this case, open Hrmatrix.xlsx 5. Save as UCINET 7 dataset 6. Note the creation of two files filename.##h and filename. ##d – you will need both of these files in order to use UCINET data.

Data List Files A good alternative when you are working with large data sets Create using a simple text file: dl nr = 1945 nc = 525, format = edgelist2, labels embedded data: Communist UFPJ BrooklynPeace BrooklynPeace UFPJ

Read a Data List File Data  Import Text File  DL…  Contact_Network_Data  OK

More Varied DL Formats for Data Best to learn this on your own using UCINet help Help  Help Topics  DL

Basic Data Analysis – Density Network  Cohesion  (new) Density Overall  Hrmatrix

Compute Density with Two-Mode Data Network  2-Mode networks  2-mode Cohesion  Input 2-mode incidence matrix  OK

Basic Network Analysis – Centrality Network  Centrality and Power  Multiple Measures (old)

Using Your Centrality Data in Statistical Analysis Spreadsheet  File  Open  Centrality Save as type  Excel Excel  File  Open

Compute Centrality with Two-Mode Data Network  2-Mode Networks  2-Mode Centrality  Input 2-mode matrix  Contact_Network_Data.##h  OK

Convert Two-Mode Data to One-Mode Data Data  Affiliations (2-mode to 1-mode)  Input data  …  Contact_Network_Data  Which mode  Column [for this particular example]

Using Your Affiliation Data Note that your new one-mode data (i.e., affiliation data) has been saved as a new file: Contact_Network_Data-ColAff You can conduct all network analysis on this dataset Let’s look at it: Spreadsheet  File  Open  Contact_Network_Data-ColAff  OK Note that your cells make are counts of affiliations, which is why we call this affiliation data

Dichotomizing Data Are data may be valued, but we may preferred that they be dichotomous Transform  Dichotomize  Contact_Network_Data-ColAff Our output will now have only 1s and 0s

Basic Visualization Visualize  Netdraw File  Open  Ucinet Dataset  Network  Choose File

Refine Visualization Open  Ucinet dataset  Attribute data  HRattributes Properties  Lines  Arrow Heads  Visible  Off Properties  Nodes  Symbols  Size  Attribute Based  Age Properties  Nodes  Symbols  Shape  Attribute Based  English_language Layout  Graph-Theoretic Layout  Spring Embedding  OK

A New View of the Network

Visualizing Contact Network Data UCINet Spreadsheet  File  Open  Excel Files  Hybrid_Variable.xlsx File  Save As  UCINet 7 dataset  Hybrid_Variable Visualize  Netdraw File  Open  Ucinet Dataset  Network  Contact_Network_Data-ColAff File  Open  Ucinet Dataset  Attribute data  Hybrid_Variable

Visualizing Contact Network Data – Continued Click on delete isolates buttons Layout  Graph Theoretic Layout  Spring Embedding (You may need to do this twice) Analysis  Components  OK

Visualizing Contact Network Data – Continued Click on MC button to look at main component only Turn off labels, arrow heads Repeat spring embedding Properties  Lines  Size  Tie Strength  1 to 10 Properties  Nodes  Symbols  Shape  Attribute Based  Select Attribute  Hybrid Variable  OK Click a node  Choose label visible

Visualizing Contact Network Data – Continued Analysis  Subgroups  Factions  2 (or 3 or 4)  Go!

Next Steps Multiplex Visualizations Three Dimensional Visualizations Advanced analysis  Exponential Random Graph Models