This document discusses social network analysis (SNA) and big data research methods based on social media and big data. It provides an overview of SNA, including definitions of key graph theory concepts like nodes, edges, centrality measures, components, cliques and triads. It also discusses how SNA can be used to analyze information diffusion on social networks, identify influential users, and study how conflicts may propagate through social ties between users. Real-world examples are provided on how SNA has been applied to topics like politics, celebrity networks, and terrorist cells.