Download Analysing the simultaneous dynamics of social networks and

Analysing the simultaneous dynamics
of social networks and individual behavior
Tom A.B. Snijders
ICS
University of Groningen
http://stat.gamma.rug.nl/snijders/
A natural way to think of social and economic interaction structure is in terms of social
networks. Studies of social networks have focused traditionally on the role of networks
as opportunities and constraints for the behavior and performance of the actors. The
behavior and performance of individual persons and other social actors (e.g., firms,
organizations) is conditioned to an important extent by their embeddedness in social
ties with other actors. But there is also an influence into the other direction: social
networks arise as the outcome of individual choices and behavior. The selection of
others as interaction partners depends strongly on characteristics (such as perceived
abilities and attitudes) and behavior of the actors involved, as well as on the earlier or
present network structure and the embeddedness in the wider social network.
The study of the influence of social networks on behavior and performance on one
hand, and the influence of behavior and performance on relation structure on the other
hand, is complicated because this mutual influence is hard to disentangle. In many fields
of study, there is much uncertainty and discussion about the extent to which on one hand
relational structure determines individual behavior, performance, and attitudes, and the
extent to which on the other hand behavior, performance, and attitudes determine
relational structure. Examples are the association between friendship and criminal
behavior, between friendship and smoking, between interpersonal influence and social
norms, between inter-firm relations and the adoption of new technology.
Recently, statistical methods have been developed that can be used to analyze the
dynamics of social networks, given that repeated observations are available of the
social network of a given group of actors (see Snijders, 2001). These are based on
stochastic microsimulation models representing the dynamics of a relational network in
a set of actors. Associated to these models are procedures for parameter estimation and
testing, using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. Extensions of these methods will be
presented where the dynamics of the social network is coupled to the dynamics of the
behavior of the actors in the network. This involves a micro-simulation model that
expresses the formation and dissolution of network ties together with the dynamics of
individual characteristics.
An example is presented which illustrates the two-way influence between friendship
relations and smoking behavior of adolescents.
Reference
Snijders, Tom A.B. (2001). The Statistical Evaluation of Social Network Dynamics.
Pp. 361-395 in Sociological Methodology -2001, edited by M.E. Sobel and M.P.
Becker. Boston and London: Basil Blackwell.
Brief curriculum vitae of Tom A. B. Snijders
(July 2003)
Address
Dept. of Sociology
University of Groningen
Grote Rozenstraat 31
9712 TG Groningen
The Netherlands
Email
web-page
[email protected]
http://stat.gamma.rug.nl/snijders/
Birth
September 26, 1949 in Tilburg (The Netherlands)
Academic Degrees
June 1973
May 4, 1979
M.Sc. in Mathematics, specializing in Mathematical Statistics, University of
Groningen (cum laude awarded).
Ph.D. in Mathematics, specializing in Mathematical Statistics, University of
Groningen (cum laude awarded). Ph.D. Thesis Asymptotic optimality theory
for testing problems with restricted alternatives. Ph.D. supervisor prof.dr. W.
Schaafsma.
Present position
Professor of Methodology and Statistics at the Dept. of Sociology (Faculty of Social and
Behavioral Sciences), University of Groningen.
Scientific Director of the ICS (Interuniversity Center for Social Science Theory and
Methodology), a research and graduate school that is a cooperative activity of the departments
of sociology of the Universities of Groningen, Utrecht, and Nijmegen.
Main research interests
Statistical modeling in the social sciences, with special interest in social network analysis and
multilevel modeling, and in statistical models reflecting substantive theory. Also: mathematical
sociology; item response theory.
Some current functions and memberships
Member of the International Statistical Institute.
Associate Editor, Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics.
Associate Editor, Psychometrika.
Associate Editor, Journal of Social Structure.