MCSN Thursday, 3-Nov-11

Proposals

Advice:

• Organize proposal strictly according to the 5 section form (plus a 6th section for bibliography) so I can see exactly how you're thinking.
• Questions. Try to formulate the questions first without reference to SNA. Then invoke SNA, and show how you intend to interpret the concepts of "vertex" and "line".
• Method. In your methodology, consider all the network concepts and Pajek techniques we've learned thus far (e.g. density, degree, components, cores, cliques, signed networks, affiliation networks...more is coming). Until you can demonstrate to yourself that a given concept or technique is *not* applicable, leave it in. During the exploratory phase you'll try things out. Don't close off avenues of exploration prematurely. Consider also the visual display of information - what techniques may work best to summarize your results?
• The bibliography can combine various types of sources:
  • Sources about the music under discussion - whether historical, ethnographic, interpretive, critical, or biographical...
  • General sources (probably from the social sciences) treating concepts of interest, e.g. fame, influence, consumption, production - whether in music or more broadly
  • SNA sources. I don't expect you to include many of these but if you can locate some papers that treat a similar subject or issue, include them and do your best to read and assimilate what they contain. Certainly you can all add ESNAP as a prime source, and cite when you deploy a particular technique.