*****  To join INSNA, visit http://www.insna.org  *****

A five day intensive course on theories and methods for understanding human
social

networks: University of Melbourne, Australia, 25 - 29 June 2007

 

Lecturers: Professor Pip Pattison and Associate Professor Garry Robins,
School of Behavioural

Science, University of Melbourne.

 

The intensive comprises two University of Melbourne postgraduate subjects,
512-988

Introduction to Social Network Analysis and 512-989 Statistical Models for
Social Networks.

Taken together, the two subjects constitute an intensive five-day
introduction to theories and

methods for understanding human social networks and their role in social and
organisational

processes. The full intensive involves 36 hours of total contact time,
including lectures, seminars

and practical classes. It will be held at the University of Melbourne from
25-29 June: 512-988

runs from 9am, June 25 to 12.30pm, June 27 and 512-989 runs from 1.30pm,
June 27 to 5pm,

June 29. Students may complete one or both subjects, in either assessed or
non-assessed mode.

 

The formal descriptions of the two subjects can be found on the Melnet
website (http://www.sna.unimelb.edu.au/).

The first subject (512-988) will include topics on data collection
approaches, and on various deterministic 

analytic methods, such as centrality, cohesive subsets, structural
equivalence, and degree distributions.

These methods will be introduced in the context of important social network
theories and empirical examples,

including strong and weak ties, structural holes, and influence processes
through cohesion and

equivalence. There will be an introduction to small world and other global
network structures.

 

The second subject (512-989) covers statistical models for social networks.
Emphasis is given to

the theoretical rationale for statistical modelling approaches and to their
application in empirical

settings. Simple random (Bernoulli) and dyadic independence graph
distributions will be

presented. More advanced statistical topics will include: an introduction to
exponential random

graph (p*) models including simulation and fitting models to data; new
specifications for

exponential random graph models; models for bipartite graphs and for network
evolution.

Selection and influence processes, and networks in organisations, will be
discussed.

Practical exercises will involve network data collection and network
analysis and will utilise a

range of social network software such as Pajek, UCINET, StOCNET/Siena and
pnet. Participants

will also have the opportunity to analyse their own data.

 

Assessment in each subject comprises class exercises to be completed during
the instruction

period for the subject (each of no more than 250 words and each worth 5%)
and a final

assignment of 2,000 words (80%) to be completed later in September 2007.

 

The pre-requisite for the introductory subject 512-988 is an undergraduate
honours degree in any

discipline. Postgraduate students at the University of Melbourne can enrol
in either or both of

512-988 and 512-989 (subject to meeting pre-requisites), and will obtain a
grade for each subject

by completion of the required assessment, to be submitted by 30th September,
2006.

External (Community Access Program) students are also welcome and can
complete one or both

subjects (subject to meeting pre-requisites) in either fully enrolled or
audit mode (i.e., with or

without assessment). The Community Access fee will be (Aust)
$2,067.50/$1,110.25

(assessed/non assessed) for both subjects and (Aust) $1,033.75/$551.25
(assessed/non assessed)

for each single subject.

 

For further details, contact Galina Daraganova, School of Behavioural
Science, University of

Melbourne, [log in to unmask]

 

 

 

Best regards,

Galina Daraganova

Research Assistant/PhD candidate
Department of Psychology,
School of Behavioural Science,
The University of Melbourne.
Phone: (03) 8344 4300
Email: [log in to unmask]

 

 


_____________________________________________________________________
SOCNET is a service of INSNA, the professional association for social
network researchers (http://www.insna.org). To unsubscribe, send
an email message to [log in to unmask] containing the line
UNSUBSCRIBE SOCNET in the body of the message.