NodeXL: Simple network analysis for social media

Abstract

NodeXL (http://nodexl.codeplex.com/) is an application that simplifies basic network analysis tasks and supports analysis of social media networks. Using the widely familiar framework of a spreadsheet, NodeXL integrates the features needed to collect, store, analyze, visualize and publish network datasets. The tool connects to a wide range of data sources and to other SNA packages through GraphML and other network file formats. Special support is provided for social media data sources including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, flickr, email, blogs, wikis, and the WWW. NodeXL is focused on end user ease of use, allowing automation of frequently repeated processes that are commonly applied to network data. NodeXL simplifies network analysis by automatically applying several processes that result in usable visualizations without requiring human engagement and refinement. Users can publish and share NodeXL data sets via the NodeXL Graph Gallery, a web archive of networks and visualizations contributed by the community of users. Many diverse networks have been contributed to the archive, enabling insights into a wide range of networks in general and social networks in particular. Review of these networks has led to identification of six major types of network pattern, described here, which have emerged as major types of self-organized structures in social media.