Introduction to Social Network Analysis with R

Introduction to Social Network Analysis with R provides an introduction to performing SNA studies using R, combining the theories of social networks and methods of social network analysis with the R environment as an open source system for statistical data analysis and graphics. Short introductions to both R and the topics of SNA are included, making the book accessible to those with little or no familiarity with either domain. The topics covered and the structure of the book mimic the stages of a typical SNA research project, and include chapters devoted to data importing, network data manipulation and selection, network visualisation and methods of de-scriptive SNA. Concepts of SNA are introduced and their application demonstrated with an extensive use of empirical examples which are based on a variety of real network datasets. Introduction to Social Network Analysis with R also provides background and theoretical motivations, which include examples of important theoretical models behind the presented methods.These numerous examples and case studies reveal how R can be used as a convenient simulation platform, and are accompanied by a supporting website featuring R functions and datasets used throughout the book.