What Is Social Network Analysis

       Focused on uncovering the patterning of people's interaction, social network analysis is the mapping and measuring of relationships and flows between people, groups, organizations, etc, providing both a visual and a mathematical analysis of human relationships. In the study, each participant in the community is called an actor and depicted as a node, and valued relations between actors are depicted as links or ties between the corresponding nodes.Using SNA, we can get answers of:

• How highly connected is an entity within a network? 
• What is an entity's overall importance in a network? 
• How central is an entity within a network? 
• How does information flow within a network? 

      Based on the intuitive notion that these patterns are important features of the lives of the individuals who display them, network analysts believe that how an individual lives depends in large part on how that individual is tied into the larger web of social connections. And the success or failure of societies and organizations often depends on the patterning of their internal structure.






Key stages of the SNA process (from: Social Network Analysis Brief Description) :

• Identifying the network of people to be analysed. 
• Gathering background information. 
• Clarifying objectives, defining the scope of the analysis and agreeing on the level of reporting required. 
• Formulating hypotheses and questions. 
• Developing the survey methodology and designing the questionnaire. 
• Surveying the individuals in the network to identify the relationships and knowledge flows between them. 
• Use a software mapping tool to visually map out the network. 
• Reviewing the map and the problems and opportunities highlighted using interviews and/or workshops. 
• Designing and implementing actions to bring about desired changes. 
• Mapping the network again after a suitable period of time.