Do you know the way to SNA?: A process model for analyzing and visualizing social media data

TitleDo you know the way to SNA?: A process model for analyzing and visualizing social media data
Publication TypeJournal Articles
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsHansen DL, Rotman D, Bonsignore E, Milic-Frayling N, Rodrigues EM, Smith M, Shneiderman B
JournalUniversity of Maryland Tech Report: HCIL-2009-17
Date Published2009///
Abstract

Traces of activity left by social media users can shed lighton individual behavior, social relationships, and community
efficacy. Tools and processes to analyze social traces are
essential for enabling practitioners to study and nurture
meaningful and sustainable social interaction. Yet such
tools and processes remain in their infancy. We conducted a
study of 15 graduate students who were learning to apply
Social Network Analysis (SNA) to data from online
communities. Based on close observations of their emergent
practices, we derived the Network Analysis and
Visualization (NAV) process model and identified stages
where intervention from peers, experts, and an SNA tool
were most useful. We show how the NAV model informs
the design of SNA tools and services, education practices,
and support for social media practitioners.