OVERVIEW OF METHOD
Like most complex analysis, social network analysis is iterative. The steps outlined below are meant to serve as a high-level guide to the process rather than a strict sequencing.
Key steps in conducting a social network analysis include:
1. DEFINE YOUR LEARNING QUESTION
What do you want to better understand?
One of the first steps when conducting a network analysis is to clearly define your learning question(s). What specifically do you want to better understand about the relationships among organizations in a particular network? Learning questions that may help you better understand a local system include:
As there is typically no opportunity for a re-do once data has been collected, it is important to think carefully about both respondent (node) and relationship (edge) attributes to be collected in order to answer your learning questions. This could include:
2. DEFINE NETWORK PARAMETERS
Another critical step in the SNA process is conducting stakeholder consultations to define key network parameters. The parameters are used to refine and contextualize the survey instrument and the data collection process, and are fundamental to ensuring that the network analysis will respond to the learning question(s). Some key parameters to establish are:
3. ENGAGE THE NETWORK
Before finalizing the survey instrument and beginning the data collection process, it is important to meet with representatives from organizations that will likely be a part of the SNA to discuss the study. This, will allow for ensuring a clear understanding of the purpose of the study, the type of insights that will come from it, and how to complete the questionnaire (or process for conducting the in-person interviews). Engaging the network can be done in a workshop setting with representatives from all the organizations expected to meet the boundary for the SNA, small group discussions, or online webinars.
4. COLLECT DATA
Primary Data
Secondary Data
Data collection and analysis can be completed once for a snapshot of the structural opportunities and constraints in a network, or can be repeated at several points in time to evaluate network evolution.
5. ANALYZE FINDINGS
Once survey data collection is complete, network analysis software can be used to help examine the network as a whole (macro-level), and individual organizations (ego-level). It is typically most effective to first analyze the macro-level network for a few key metrics, which subsequently guides the analysis of individual organizations themselves. On this basis of this, results are analyzed and scores assigned to various indicators being tracked by a project or by network members themselves.
Several key variables are typically analyzed at the network level and for specific actors:
Longitudinal data can be used to analyze changes in the network over time. As a network evolves, the ONA is able to track impact on local systems against activities undertaken by projects. As a result, network analysis feedback loops enable program implementers to appropriately calibrate their interventions as they progress and learn from them.
6. SHARE RESULTS
Below are some best practices for sharing results: