Social Network Analysis Social Network Analysis and Theories of Actionand Theories of Action

Rafael WittekRafael WittekDepartment of SociologyDepartment of SociologyUniversity of GroningenUniversity of Groningen

June 29, 2005June 29, 2005 QMSS Summerschool, LjubljanaQMSS Summerschool, Ljubljana 22

Social networks don’t Social networks don’t explain anything!explain anything!

June 29, 2005June 29, 2005 QMSS Summerschool, LjubljanaQMSS Summerschool, Ljubljana 44

Today’s ProgramToday’s Program

Introductory Lecture: Theories of Introductory Lecture: Theories of ActionAction

DiscussionDiscussion Lunch BreakLunch Break Introductory Lecture: MethodologyIntroductory Lecture: Methodology

June 29, 2005June 29, 2005 QMSS Summerschool, LjubljanaQMSS Summerschool, Ljubljana 55

Morning Session: OverviewMorning Session: Overview1. Social Network Analysis: Toolkit Essentials1. Social Network Analysis: Toolkit Essentials

Example: Inter-Island Exchange in Example: Inter-Island Exchange in MelanesiaMelanesia

2. Interdependencies2. Interdependencies3. Social Mechanisms3. Social Mechanisms

Example: Informal Control in a Paper Example: Informal Control in a Paper FactoryFactory

4. Theories of Action4. Theories of Action5. Discussion and Conclusion5. Discussion and Conclusion

June 29, 2005June 29, 2005 QMSS Summerschool, LjubljanaQMSS Summerschool, Ljubljana 66

Social Network Analysis:Social Network Analysis:Toolkit EssentialsToolkit Essentials

Action Theoretic ParadigmAction Theoretic Paradigm

Type of InterdependenceType of Interdependence

Social MechanismSocial Mechanism

Rationalism, Structuralism, Culturalism

Functional, Structural, Cognitive

Situational, Action Generating, Transformational

Example: Emergence of an Example: Emergence of an Exchange NetworkExchange Network

The Kula Ring in MelanesiaThe Kula Ring in Melanesia

June 29, 2005June 29, 2005 QMSS Summerschool, LjubljanaQMSS Summerschool, Ljubljana 88

June 29, 2005June 29, 2005 QMSS Summerschool, LjubljanaQMSS Summerschool, Ljubljana 99