Many elements of our society are embedded in network structures in which actors depend on each other as well as the structural context of their actions. This is reflected by the wide use of concepts and terms of social network analysis, such as the concept of the small world, the strength of weak ties, opinion leaders, gatekeepers, viral marketing, terrorist networks, stakeholders and the like. This volume provides a sample of the broad range of research in which social network analysis can be fruitfully applied. Topics addressed include networks of academic hiring, epidemic dynamics of diseases in populations such as HIV/AIDS, flow of information, semantic networks of the internet, relationships in private and public spheres, patent authorship, paper citation, and networks in linguistic as well as political systems.

Autorentext
Thomas N. Friemel is Assistant Professor at the Institute of Mass Communication and Media Research at the University of Zurich (IPMZ). The 3rd and 4th Conferences on Applications of Social Network Analysis (ASNA 2006/2007) were held under his chairmanship.

Inhalt
Why Context Matters.- A Hidden Variable Approach to Analyze Hidden Dynamics of Social Networks.- Three-Valued Modal Logic for Reconstructing the Semantic Network Structure of a Corpus of Coded Texts.- Context Overlap and Multiplexity in Personal Relationships.- Navigating and Annotating Semantically-Enabled Networks of People and Associated Objects.- The Flow of Information in Evolving Social Groups.- Academic Employment Networks and Departmental Prestige.- A QAP Network Analysis of Intergovernmental Cooperation between Swiss Cantons.- Structural Changes in Agent-Based Simulations: Representing HIV/AIDS Impact on Social Networks.