Using social network analysis in applied psychological research: A tutorial.

Abstract

Social network analysis (SNA) is a highly flexible research method that allows for novel exploration of a wide variety of research phenomena. Evidence from fields as disparate as public health, education, informatics, sociology, and medicine has demonstrated the importance of recognizing the complexity inherent in individuals' connections with others. In this article, we provide a brief conceptual overview of social network theory and methodology, and then demonstrate how to apply SNA to an applied psychological research context studying students embedded in classrooms. We also provide numerous supporting materials on our OSF page, including R code for all analyses, a dataset containing social network data, and a glossary of key terms in social network analysis. We conclude with a set of recommendations for researchers interested in applying SNA to their own contexts and content areas. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).