Introduction to Social Network Analysis

25-27 March 2026

Dre Elisa Volpi, UNIGE

Prof. Florence Metz, University of Kaiserslautern Landau

Dr. Laurence Brandenberger, UZH

This three-day doctoral workshop provides an introduction to Social Network Analysis (SNA) with a specific focus on its applications in political science. The course introduces key concepts, measures, and analytical strategies used to study relational data, enabling participants to gather data about and examine how political actors, institutions, and ideas are embedded in networks and how these connections shape political behaviour or policy processes.

The workshop covers fundamental network concepts such as nodes and ties, centrality, cohesion, homophily, brokerage, and community structures, as well as basic approaches to network modelling and inference. Throughout the course, these tools are illustrated with substantive examples from political science, including networks of political elites, parties and coalitions, legislative collaboration or social-ecological networks. 

In addition to conceptual foundations, the course includes hands-on sessions using R, in which participants will learn how to construct, visualise, and analyse network data. No prior experience with network analysis or R is required. By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to critically assess network-based research in political science and to design and implement basic network analyses for their own doctoral projects.

9:00-17:00h on each day. The event takes place in this building: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4DSgwYsWJh2DiDUE9

Lausanne

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