The dynamic analysis of networks takes many forms. In this lab we will examine how it is implemented in ORA (Organizational Risk Analyzer). At the heart of ORA’s approach is the idea of a meta-matrix of networks that not only includes social networks but knowledge networks (who knows what), information networks (what ideas are [...]

In this lab we will examine how ORA fuses geospatial and relational data so that they can be analyzed concurrently. This is a relatively recent development within social network analysis, and it appears to hold great promise. Other efforts are focused on including both social network and geospatial data into single multivariate regression statistical analyses. We won’t consider [...]

Bridges and brokers can be thought of as elements of a network that connect or hold together the subnetworks of the larger network. Brokers are the actors that connect the subnetworks together, while bridges are the ties between the brokers who hold the network together. Thus, actors who are considered to be brokers are similar [...]

A major focus of social network analysis is to identify dense clusters of actors “among whom there are relatively strong, direct, intense, and/or positive ties.”1 Social network analysts often refer to these clusters of actors as cohesive subgroups and generally assume that “social interaction is the basis for solidarity, shared norms, identity, and collective behavior, so [...]

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 [...]

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 powerful social and dynamic network analysis tool from the Carnegie Mellon CASOS lab.  It is one of several applications we use in the CORE lab to build our analytic products and teach students. You can download the latest version of ORA for free (for non-commercial use) at [...]