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Generalized Blockmodeling

Part of Structural Analysis in the Social Sciences

Authors:
Patrick Doreian, University of Pittsburgh
Vladimir Batagelj, University of Ljubljana
Anuska Ferligoj, University of Ljubljana

Date Published: February 2005
availability: Available
format: Hardback
isbn: 9780521840859

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About the Authors

This book provides an integrated treatment of blockmodeling, the most frequently used technique in social network analysis. It secures its mathematical foundations and then generalizes blockmodeling for the analysis of many types of network structures. Examples are used throughout the text and include small group structures, little league baseball teams, intra-organizational networks, inter-organizational networks, baboon grooming networks, marriage ties of noble families, trust networks, signed networks, Supreme Court decisions, journal citation networks, and alliance networks. Also provided is an integrated treatment of algebraic and graph theoretic concepts for network analysis and a broad introduction to cluster analysis. These formal ideas are the foundations for the authors' proposal for direct optimizational approaches to blockmodeling which yield blockmodels that best fit the data, a measure of fit that is integral to the establishment of blockmodels, and creates the potential for many generalizations and a deductive use of blockmodeling.
- Completely general and very flexible treatment of blockmodeling
- Actual blockmodels established fit the data better than those using alternative approaches
- By emphasizing the specification of blockmodels in terms of block types there is the potential for continuous generalizations and the analyses of many different types of networks
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Reviews & endorsements
'This is a clearly presented and insightful book that provides an excellent mix of mathematical rigor and practical application. I would unhesitatingly recommend the book to anyone interested in social network analysis or discrete clustering methods.' Journal of Classification

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Product details
- Date Published: February 2005
- format: Hardback
- isbn: 9780521840859
- length: 402 pages
- dimensions: 229 x 152 x 27 mm
- weight: 0.76kg
- contains: 103 b/w illus. 117 tables
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
Preface
1. Social networks and blockmodels
2. Network data sets
3. Mathematical prelude
4. Relations and graphs for network analysis
5. Clustering approaches
6. An optimizational approach to conventional blockmodeling
7. Foundations for generalized blockmodeling
8. Blockmodeling two-mode network data
9. Semirings and lattices
10. Balance theory and blockmodeling signed networks
11. Symmetric-acyclic blockmodels
12. Extending generalized blockmodeling
Bibliography
Author index
Subject index.
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Authors
Patrick Doreian, University of Pittsburgh
Patrick Doreian is a Professor of Sociology and Statistics at the University of Pittsburgh and is chair of the Department of Sociology. He has edited the Journal of Mathematical Sociology since 1982 and has been a member of the editorial board for Social Networks since 2003. He was a Centennial Professor at The London School of Economics during 2002. He has been a Visiting Professor at the University of California-Irvine and the University of Ljubljana. His interests include social networks, mathematical sociology, interorganizational networks, environmental sociology and social movements.
Vladimir Batagelj, University of Ljubljana
Vladimir Batagelj is a Professor of Discrete and Computational Mathematics at the University of Ljubljana and is chair of the Department of Theoretical Computer Science at IMFM, Ljubljana. He is a member of editorial boards of Informatica and Journal of Social Structure. He was visiting professor at University of Pittsburgh in 1990 to 1991 and at University of Konstanz (Germany) in 2002. His main research interests are in graph theory, algorithms on graphs and networks, combinatorial optimization, data analysis and applications of information technology in education. He is coauthor (with Andrej Mrvar) of Pajek - a program for analysis and visualization of large networks.
Anuska Ferligoj, University of Ljubljana
Anu∫ka Ferligoj is a Professor of Statistics at the University of Ljubljana and is dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. She is editor of the series Metodoloski zvezki since 1987 and is a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Mathematical Sociology, Journal of Classification, Social Networks, and Statistics in Transition. She was a Fulbright scholar in 1990 and Visiting Professor at the University of Pittsburgh. She was awarded the title of Ambassador of Science of the Republic of Slovenia in 1997. Her interests include multivariate analysis (constrained and multicriteria clustering), social networks (measurement quality and blockmodeling), and survey methodology (reliability and validity of measurement).