Political Social Networks Study Cards

Enhance Your Learning with Political Social Networks Flash Cards for quick learning



Political Social Networks

The study of how individuals, organizations, and institutions are connected and interact within the political sphere.

Network Analysis

A methodological approach that examines the structure and dynamics of social networks to understand patterns of interaction and influence.

Social Capital

The resources, such as trust, reciprocity, and social connections, that individuals and groups can access through their social networks.

Centrality

A measure of an individual's or node's importance within a network, often based on their degree of connectedness or influence.

Homophily

The tendency for individuals to associate and form connections with others who are similar to them in terms of characteristics such as beliefs, values, and demographics.

Structural Holes

Gaps or missing links between individuals or groups within a network, which can provide opportunities for information flow and influence.

Brokerage

The role of an individual or organization that connects otherwise disconnected groups or individuals within a network, facilitating the flow of information and resources.

Social Influence

The ability of individuals or groups to shape the attitudes, behaviors, and decisions of others within a social network.

Diffusion of Innovations

The spread of new ideas, practices, or policies through a social network, often influenced by the characteristics of the individuals and the structure of the network.

Collective Action

Coordinated efforts by a group of individuals to achieve a common goal or address a shared problem, often facilitated or hindered by the structure of their social network.

Social Movements

Organized collective actions aimed at promoting or resisting social or political change, often relying on social networks for mobilization and coordination.

Policy Networks

Networks of individuals, organizations, and institutions involved in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of public policies.

Network Governance

A mode of governance that emphasizes collaboration, coordination, and decision-making through networks of actors, rather than hierarchical or market-based mechanisms.

Network Resilience

The ability of a network to withstand and recover from disruptions or shocks, often influenced by its structure, redundancy, and adaptability.

Network Dynamics

The processes and mechanisms that shape the evolution, change, and stability of social networks over time.

Egocentric Network

A network that focuses on the connections and relationships of a single individual, often used to study personal social networks and their effects.

Sociocentric Network

A network that examines the connections and relationships within a defined group or community, often used to study organizational or community networks.

Multiplexity

The presence of multiple types of relationships or connections between individuals within a social network, such as friendship, collaboration, and information exchange.

Network Visualization

The graphical representation of social networks, often using nodes and edges to depict individuals and their connections.

Ethical Considerations

The ethical issues and dilemmas that arise in the study and analysis of social networks, such as privacy, consent, and data protection.

Node

An individual, organization, or entity within a social network that is connected to other nodes through relationships or interactions.

Edge

The connection or relationship between two nodes within a social network, often represented by a line or arrow.

Degree

The number of connections or edges that a node has within a social network, often used as a measure of its centrality or importance.

Clique

A tightly-knit group of nodes within a social network that are highly interconnected, often sharing similar characteristics or interests.

Small World Phenomenon

The idea that social networks tend to exhibit short average path lengths and high clustering, allowing for efficient information flow and social connections.

Scale-Free Networks

Social networks that exhibit a power-law distribution of node degrees, with a few highly connected nodes (hubs) and many nodes with few connections.

Community Detection

The process of identifying and delineating distinct communities or groups within a social network based on patterns of connections and interactions.

Centrality Measures

Quantitative measures used to assess the importance or influence of nodes within a social network, such as degree centrality, betweenness centrality, and eigenvector centrality.

Network Density

A measure of the extent to which nodes within a social network are connected to each other, often calculated as the ratio of observed connections to possible connections.

Reciprocity

The tendency for individuals within a social network to form mutual connections or relationships, often characterized by the exchange of resources or favors.

Transitivity

The tendency for individuals within a social network to form connections with others who are connected to each other, often leading to the formation of clusters or communities.

Network Closure

The degree to which connections within a social network are reciprocated or closed, often associated with trust, cooperation, and social cohesion.

Heterophily

The tendency for individuals within a social network to form connections with others who are dissimilar to them in terms of characteristics such as beliefs, values, and demographics.

Social Network Analysis Software

Computer programs and tools used to collect, analyze, and visualize social network data, often providing various metrics and algorithms for network analysis.

Temporal Networks

Social networks that change over time, often capturing the dynamics and evolution of relationships and interactions within a specific period or context.

Multiplex Networks

Social networks that consist of multiple layers or types of connections between nodes, such as friendship, collaboration, and communication networks.

Ego Network

The network of connections and relationships surrounding a focal individual or ego within a social network, often used to study personal social networks and their effects.

Structural Equivalence

The degree to which nodes within a social network have similar positions or roles, often based on their connections and relationships with other nodes.

Homogeneity

The degree to which nodes within a social network are similar to each other in terms of characteristics such as beliefs, values, and demographics.

Cohesion

The degree to which nodes within a social network are connected to each other, often indicating the strength of relationships and the presence of subgroups or communities.

Structural Balance

The tendency for relationships within a social network to be balanced or imbalanced, often influenced by factors such as triads and social norms.

Opinion Leaders

Individuals within a social network who are highly influential and have a significant impact on the attitudes and behaviors of others.

Information Cascades

The spread of information or behaviors within a social network, often characterized by a chain reaction or domino effect.

Social Contagion

The spread of emotions, behaviors, or attitudes within a social network, often influenced by social norms and the behavior of others.

Network Intervention

Strategies and interventions aimed at modifying or influencing the structure or dynamics of a social network to achieve desired outcomes or objectives.

Data Collection

The process of gathering and acquiring data on social networks, often through surveys, interviews, observations, or digital traces.

Data Analysis

The process of organizing, cleaning, and analyzing social network data to uncover patterns, relationships, and insights.

Network Metrics

Quantitative measures used to describe and analyze the structure and properties of social networks, such as density, centrality, and clustering coefficient.

Network Models

Mathematical or computational representations of social networks, often used to simulate and study network dynamics and processes.