MCSN 2011 schedule

short link: http://bit.ly/mcsnsched

Note: in the following schedule, all reading assignments refer to ESNAP (available in the SUB bookstore, and also online) unless otherwise stated. Most of these readings are specified using the book's section numbers rather than page numbers. Click on dates for the day's outline (these are fluid, especially beforehand). Principal topics are in boldface. Be sure to try out all the applications using Pajek on your own computer! This is very important for your fluency with both theory and software.

Some optional readings are indicated in this table by reference to ESNAP chapters they complement. Wasserman and Faust contains more rigorous explanations of all the topics in ESNAP; I haven't marked these as optional readings, but feel free to refer to their Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications as needed. Likewise, browse Hanneman and Riddle's Introduction to social network methods, which covers largely the same material as ESNAP but permuted (and using software that runs only on Windows machines).

ESNAP questions are generally due on Thursdays, along with a Web example illustrating chapter content - prepare this example as a Pajek network that you can share with the class. ESNAP assignments are generally due on Tuesdays. There are also a number of self-guided in-class group projects, requiring a write up and submission by the following class period. Submit all work via the Moodle.

Some homework answers consist of prose, while others require network diagrams. You can prepare diagrams in your word processor (for instance, see MS Word's "Drawing" toolbar), but far better to prepare them as Pajek ".net" files.

Note that your work is always due by 11 am on the due date - i.e. you must submit your work before class! Without an approved excuse (doctor's note or evidence of family emergency), late work will decremented one-quarter point per day or fraction thereof (i.e. after 11 am on the due date, a 4.0 drops to a 3.75), and make-up quizzes will not be given without such excuse.

Thursday, 08-Sep-11	Course introduction and overview. Bring your laptops and we'll install Pajek.
Tuesday, 13-Sep-11	Social structure. Read Preface, p. 1, and sections 1.1 to 1.3.2. Graph theory exercise due (distributed by email) - submit answers via the Moodle (see above for instructions regarding network diagrams). Brainstorm some MCSN examples with research questions.
Thursday, 15-Sep-11	Read sections 1.3.3 to 1.5; submit 1.6; come to class prepared with a Pajek example drawn from the Web, and illustrating chapter content.
Tuesday, 20-Sep-11	Attributes and Relations. Read 2.1-2.4; submit 1.7.
Thursday, 22-Sep-11	Quiz. Read 2.5-2.7; submit 2.8; come to class prepared with a Pajek example drawn from the Web, and illustrating chapter content.
Tuesday, 27-Sep-11	Cohesive Subgroups. Read p. 59 and 3.1-3.4; submit 2.9.
Thursday, 29-Sep-11	Read 3.5-3.7; submit 3.8; come to class prepared with a Pajek example drawn from the Web, and illustrating chapter content..
Tuesday, 04-Oct-11	Self-guided in-class project day: cohesive subgroups.
Thursday, 06-Oct-11	Self-guided in-class project day: cohesive subgroups. Submit 3.9.
Tuesday, 11-Oct-11	Sentiments and Friendship. Read 4.1-4.4; submit self-guided project writeup.
Thursday, 13-Oct-11	Quiz. Read 4.5-4.6; hand in 4.7; bring Web example.
Tuesday, 18-Oct-11	Affiliations and 2-mode nets. Read 5.1-5.4; submit 4.8
Thursday, 20-Oct-11	Read 5.5-5.6; submit 5.7; bring Web example.
Tuesday, 25-Oct-11	Centrality. Read p. 121, and Chapter 6.1-6.5; submit 5.8
Thursday, 27-Oct-11	Submit project proposal (4 paragraphs & bib) and 6.6; bring Web example.
Tuesday, 01-Nov-11	Brokers and Bridges. Read 7.1-7.4; submit 6.7.
Thursday, 03-Nov-11	Quiz. Read 7.5-7.6; submit 7.7; bring Web example.
Tuesday, 08-Nov-11	Diffusion. Read 8.1-8.3; submit 7.8
Thursday, 10-Nov-11	No class - Remembrance Day holiday. But read 8.4-8.5.
Tuesday, 15-Nov-11	Prestige. Read p. 185, and 9.1-9.7; submit 8.6, 8.7.
Thursday, 17-Nov-11	Self-guided in-class project day: prestige; submit 9.8 and bring Web example.
Tuesday, 22-Nov-11	Ranking. Read 10.1-10.6; submit 9.9.
Thursday, 24-Nov-11	Student presentations; submit 10.7, 10.8.
Tuesday, 29-Nov-11	Student presentations.
Thursday, 01-Dec-11	Self-guided in-class project day: composition.
Tuesday, 06-Dec-11	Student presentations and performance.
Friday, 16-Dec-11	Submit final papers (via Moodle, and also hardcopy to 382 FAB)