Visual network research (VNR) – a theoretical and methodological appraisal of an evolving field

Patterns of interdisciplinary collaboration resemble biogeochemical relationships in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica: a historical social network analysis of science, 1907–2016

“…We combined standard techniques from quantitative SNA (e.g., degree, centrality and density metrics) with recent approaches from visual network analysis (Decuypere 2019;Jaspersen & Stein 2019;Gamper & Schönhuth 2020;Venturini et al 2021). Visual network analysis has evolved in recent years as network scholars have shifted attention away from small graphs with diagrammatic visualizations (interpreted by following paths between individual nodes) toward larger graphs with topological visualizations (interpreted by detecting spatial patterns; Grandjean & Jacomy 2019;Venturini et al 2021).…”

“…When the simulation is run, the push and pull of the forces rearrange the position of the nodes based on the strength of their ties. When the forces reach equilibrium, the result is a spatialized network graph, with nodes that are more closely related positioned more closely together (Gamper & Schönhuth 2020;Venturini et al 2021). These graphs can highlight the positions of key individuals as well as reveal polarization (stretched shapes) and clustering (density of nodes) within and between communities (Grandjean & Jacomy 2019;Venturini et al 2021).…”

Network Analysis and Health Inequalities: A Methodological Introduction

“…Although a network can generally be described as a set of nodes and edges, there are significant differences with regard to the empirical procedure, both in the data collection and in the data evaluation. Ideally, network research can be differentiated along two dimensions (Gamper & Schönhuth, 2020). Along a structural dimension, whole networks and egocentric networks can be distinguished, while along a methodological dimension, quantitative and qualitative procedures of network research can be distinguished.…”

“…The theoretical discussion about a cultural or constructivist opening of network research (e.g., Emirbayer & Goodwin, 1994;White, 1992) goes hand in hand with the need for less standardized or qualitative-methodological approaches (Hollstein & Straus, 2006). The so-called visual network research Gamper & Schönhuth, 2020), which is dominant in qualitative network research, is Fig. 3 The clustering of happy and less happy people in the city of Framingham.…”

“…Source: Fowler and Christakis (2008, p. 3) presented here. Since the 1980s, so-called network maps and network drawings (Gamper & Schönhuth, 2020) have been used in data collection, which are used to collect subjective experiences and attitudes of the actors. The most open form of visual network research is the network drawing.…”