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***** To join INSNA, visit http://www.insna.org ***** Steve wrote: "[Network Analysis] is distinguished first and foremost by the subject matter -- what we study -- which is networks.... Highly distinctive theory that matches the distinctive phenomena being studied..." This may be semantic nitpicking but is Network Analysis distinguished by "what" is studied or the way in which whatever is studied is perceived? I don't see networks as a distinct "what", but rather as emphasis on relationality, whatever the subject matter may be. A network isn't a concrete thing in itself, it is a set of relations between things. That seems much more like a "how" than a "what" to me. Indeed, we see all manner of different subject "whats" being studied using network analysis. The thing that they have in common is that they approach their "what" with a relational perspective and with a set of conceptual tools (including formal analytic approaches, math, etc) for working with their "what" in a relational way. Even if we limit it to *social* network analysis, we've only restricted the what to social relations, which still covers a lot of whatnot. Blyden Potts _____________________________________________________________________ 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.