A beginner’s guide from a social network analysis fan with much to learn. This handout accompanies slides and a video conference call I participated in about Netlytic and social network analysis basics.

1. Matthew J. Kushin,Ph.D. Shepherd University | @mjkushin | mattkushin.com
Social Network Analysis Basics for Social Media Profs
A beginner’s guide from a social network analysis fan with much to learn!
http://Netlytic.org
 Tutorial for using Netlytic: https://youtu.be/F6scVtMGKFE
 Overview of how to use the network visualization tool https://netlytic.org/home/?page_id=2
Additional Resources
 Slides “Basics of social network analysis”: https://www.slideshare.net/ProfKushin/basics-of-network-analysis-
using-netlytic
 Blog post “A Quick,Interactive Activity for Introducing the Concept of Digital Influencers”:
http://mattkushin.com/2018/03/19/digital-influencers-easy-classroom-activity/
 Blog post detailing the below assignment: http://mattkushin.com/2017/04/24/teaching-basic-social-network-
analysis-of-instagram-and-twitter-data-using-netlytic-org-post-4-of-4/
Assignment
Note: The below assignment can be done as a class activity, or can be part of a larger research paper assignment. I
use it as 1 part of a social media analytics research paper in my Comm 435 Communication Research class.
I provide a lecture about the core concepts. Students learn to use the Netlytic software in class.
Students work in groups. Each group has a different client they are researching (usually, an on campus organization
or a local company or non-profit). But you could have them search any hashtag or Twitter username.
The lab guide linked below will walk you and your students through analyzing their network. They will need to have
created their own free Netlytic.org account, connected their Twitter account (in order to pull down Tweets) and
have set up their search terms.
Social Network Analysis Data:(We’ll go over in class.Here’s the lab guide: bit.ly/435_netlyticlab)
Depending on what your networks are, you’ll need to choose from the RQs below. Choose all thatare appropriate.
Feel free to create your own. Discard therest.
For networks that analyzehashtags or search terms:
1. What Twitter accounts arepopular (i.e. have high in-degree) in this network and how often is each popular
accountmentioned?
2. What accounts mention others or RT others a lot in this network (i.e., have high out-degree)?
3. What unique clusters existin this network?
For networks analyzing mentions of your client
1. What 3 Twitter accounts mention your clientthe most? How often does each mention your client(i.e., how
many out-degree from those accounts to your client)?
2. What clusters aretalkingaboutyour client?