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Don,

can you please be more explicit on "computer models of agents forming  
networks" ?

I cannot see why this should be a bad way... is that those models  
don't account for the network to have an effect on the agent's  
behaviour?

I have a little experience in agent-based simulation models and in  
that field there is a lot to do with agents and networks as an  
emergent product of / constraint to agents' interactions... are we  
talking about the same computer models?

thanks,
Simone Gabbriellini
PhD, Department of Political and Social Sciences,
University of Pisa



Il giorno 17/giu/09, alle ore 19:55, Don Steiny ha scritto:

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>
> Roy,
>
>  Look at critiques of functionalism.  Most network analysis is  
> exactly what network analysis was invented to oppose. I have talked  
> with Granovetter about this at length and one of the reasons he does  
> not go to SunBelt is because most of the network analysis projects  
> are counter to the way of thinking he tries to teach.  One paper he  
> recommended to me was by Stephen J Gould on "The Panglossian  
> Paradigm."  If you read Granovetter, White and the others who  
> created modern network analysis at Harvard in the 60's, the central  
> themes of their work is to find principled alternatives to systems  
> theory and the idea of atomic actors.  Tons of network analysis  
> these days (I a tiny bit of reviewing for journal articles) is  
> computer models of agents forming networks, exactly what the network  
> metaphor was created to combat. I often get papers on "modeling work  
> flow with network analysis" which is pure functionalism.  Another is  
> to look at networks to discern their purpose.
>  It is hard to paint network analysis with one brush.  At SunBelt I  
> have talked at length with about the "White" vs. the "Friedman" camp  
> (especially with Emmanuel Lazegas).  About a year ago Harrison said  
> "I am sick of networks," and, of course, there is Mark's SunBelt  
> keynote "The Myth of Networks as a Special Method in Sociology."
> -Don
>> *****  To join INSNA, visit http://www.insna.org  *****
>>
>> Dear members,
>>
>> We are well served with 'positive' critiques of network analysis  
>> from van Velsen (1964) to the present day, but I'm having  
>> difficulty finding any less so bowled over with the approach.  Can  
>> anyone point me to such papers?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>>
>> Roy Greenhalgh
>> MPhil/PhD Research Student
>> School of Social Sciences
>> University of Southampton
>> Highfield
>> Southampton
>> SO17 1BJ
>>
>> Email: [log in to unmask]
>> Phone: 07976 881013
>>
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