Centrality is one of the oldest concepts in social network analysis and is used quite extensively (and often uncritically) in analyses of dark networks. A central actor can be seen as someone who has a lot of ties to other actors (degree centrality), as someone who is closer (in terms of path distance) to all [...]

A number of different algorithms exist that examine network topography. Network density is one such measure. Researchers have found that network density is positively related to the likelihood that actors within the network will follow accepted norms and behavior, and it appears to have a curvilinear (U-shaped) relationship with a variety of outcomes. The formal [...]

A common approach to social network analysis (SNA) is to focus on a single type of relationship among actors: friendship, kinship, tribal affiliation, etc. In the real world, however, actors are generally connected to one another in several ways, and these ties can pull us in multiple (and sometimes contradictory) directions. For example, most individuals [...]

Network visualizations can help us trace and detect patterns of relations in a given social network. However, the human eye is easily fooled, which is why social network analysts rely on graph drawing algorithms that systematically allocate vertices in “social space.” One of the purposes of this exercise is to introduce you to the capabilities [...]

 The Organizational Risk Analyzer (ORA) is a dynamic network analysis software program developed by Dr. Kathleen Carley at Carnegie-Mellon University. Under her direction at the Center for Computational Analysis of Social and Organizational Systems (CASOS), the ORA software is regularly updated and distributed freely for non-commercial use. As the software is constantly updated, you should ensure [...]

  Step 1:  Downloading the software To download the Lighthouse collection software, turn on your Android device, open up the Internet browser, and go to the website ”lhproject.info”.  Once at the website click on the graphic that says “ODK”. Figure 1 – Downloading Lighthouse Step 2:  Installing the software Once you’ve downloaded the software, you [...]

Step 1:  Go to the Lighthouse server   To reach the Lighthouse server, go to “lighthouserp.appspot .com”.  Once there, log in with Aggregate with your username and password.   Step 2:  Navigating the server   Once you are Aggregate, you can select which forms you want to view from the drop down menu in the [...]