Comments on: Nathniel Flick And The Limits Of Social Networking http://washingtonindependent.com/27626/nathniel-flick-and-the-limits-of-social-networking National News in Context Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:46:59 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jonathan Stray » What Can We Learn From the Network Structure of Wikipedia Authors? http://washingtonindependent.com/27626/nathniel-flick-and-the-limits-of-social-networking/comment-page-1#comment-19168 Jonathan Stray » What Can We Learn From the Network Structure of Wikipedia Authors? Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:41:49 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=27626#comment-19168 [...] to ask — in this case a question about “similar opinions.”  (The most cogent critique of my COIN Policy Author Graph made exactly this [...] [...] to ask — in this case a question about “similar opinions.”  (The most cogent critique of my COIN Policy Author Graph made exactly this [...]

]]> By: sna http://washingtonindependent.com/27626/nathniel-flick-and-the-limits-of-social-networking/comment-page-1#comment-35242 sna Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:53:50 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=27626#comment-35242 Google Harrison White or Mark Granovetter if you are interested in what network analysis can reveal about people's social identities and preferences. These techniques, if used correctly, can demonstrate a great deal about the organizational norms people use to understand the world. Google Harrison White or Mark Granovetter if you are interested in what network analysis can reveal about people's social identities and preferences. These techniques, if used correctly, can demonstrate a great deal about the organizational norms people use to understand the world.

]]> By: sna http://washingtonindependent.com/27626/nathniel-flick-and-the-limits-of-social-networking/comment-page-1#comment-16536 sna Thu, 29 Jan 2009 03:53:50 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=27626#comment-16536 Google Harrison White or Mark Granovetter if you are interested in what network analysis can reveal about people's social identities and preferences. These techniques, if used correctly, can demonstrate a great deal about the organizational norms people use to understand the world. Google Harrison White or Mark Granovetter if you are interested in what network analysis can reveal about people's social identities and preferences. These techniques, if used correctly, can demonstrate a great deal about the organizational norms people use to understand the world.

]]> By: The Washington Independent » Nathniel Flick And The Limits Of … http://washingtonindependent.com/27626/nathniel-flick-and-the-limits-of-social-networking/comment-page-1#comment-16462 The Washington Independent » Nathniel Flick And The Limits Of … Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:04:06 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=27626#comment-16462 [...] O­riginal­l­y p­o­st­ed h­ere:  The W­a­shing­to­­n Ind­epend­ent » Na­thniel Flick­ A... [...] [...] O­riginal­l­y p­o­st­ed h­ere:  The W­a­shing­to­­n Ind­epend­ent » Na­thniel Flick­ A… [...]

]]> By: Jonathan Stray http://washingtonindependent.com/27626/nathniel-flick-and-the-limits-of-social-networking/comment-page-1#comment-16393 Jonathan Stray Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:06:56 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=27626#comment-16393 You are correct in that such graphs are difficult to interpret. What can be inferred from such a graph depends crucially on the definition of an "edge," which in this case (and as discussed towards the end of my article) indicates that two people published a paper or article together, a much stronger indicator of concordant ideas than mere "palling around with."<br><br>I also placed edges between people who were at the same institution at the same time, which is a much more tenuous intellectual connection; in a future version of the graph I am going to represent organizations as their own nodes, which should help clarify the difference between "worked at with" and "co-authored with."<br><br>Nonetheless interpretation <em>is</em> subtle with such graphs, something that I am sensitive to as an epistemology geek. The the analysis I came away with in this case was the result of reading all the articles and papers that I found in the course of discovering the edges in the graph. The graph is a just map, an indication of where to look -- and I don't think anyone seriously disputes that CNAS is a good place to look for current COIN policy. Starting from near zero, I think it is illuminating that an outsider could identify the centers of gravity with such an exercise.<br><br>It has also been pointed out that (typos aside) that this graph is very incomplete. True. I spent a number of days on the project, but there were limits to the time I could invest in this very manual plotting process. As you might imagine, I have already received many suggestions for people to add to the graph, and plan to update it in the future.<br><br> - Jonathan You are correct in that such graphs are difficult to interpret. What can be inferred from such a graph depends crucially on the definition of an “edge,” which in this case (and as discussed towards the end of my article) indicates that two people published a paper or article together, a much stronger indicator of concordant ideas than mere “palling around with.”

I also placed edges between people who were at the same institution at the same time, which is a much more tenuous intellectual connection; in a future version of the graph I am going to represent organizations as their own nodes, which should help clarify the difference between “worked at with” and “co-authored with.”

Nonetheless interpretation is subtle with such graphs, something that I am sensitive to as an epistemology geek. The the analysis I came away with in this case was the result of reading all the articles and papers that I found in the course of discovering the edges in the graph. The graph is a just map, an indication of where to look — and I don't think anyone seriously disputes that CNAS is a good place to look for current COIN policy. Starting from near zero, I think it is illuminating that an outsider could identify the centers of gravity with such an exercise.

It has also been pointed out that (typos aside) that this graph is very incomplete. True. I spent a number of days on the project, but there were limits to the time I could invest in this very manual plotting process. As you might imagine, I have already received many suggestions for people to add to the graph, and plan to update it in the future.

– Jonathan

]]>