Presentation at the 4S-EASST 2016 Conference (http://www.sts2016bcn.org)

2. Are We Talking About
the Same Networks?
Tommaso Venturini
Anders Kristian Munk
Mathieu Jacomy
Actor-Network
theory
Network
Analysis
Digital
Networks

3. 6Pa _&CRad _ HUR _f 6CH Re NV U d ZNaR_VN i RZV aVP Rad _ P ZR
a TRaUR_ a NPa N N dU R HUR R Rad _ N_R a_N VR a ReV aV T V N P aN a
ZN V T N _R&ZN V Th _R NaV RR a OR _R RNaR f m R_S _ZR n _ aUR
Rad _ dV V cR
Uaa 3((R dV V R VN _T(dV V(G PVN M Rad _
G PVN CRad _ 6 N f V GC6 V cR aVTNaR PVN a_bPab_R aU_ bTU T_N U
aUR _VR a PUN_NPaR_VgR a_bPab_R V aR_Z S R V VcV bN NPa _ R R
_ aUV T dVaUV aUR Rad _ N aUR aVR _ R TR _R NaV UV _ V aR_NPaV
aUNa P RPa aURZ
Uaa 3((R dV V R VN _T(dV V(G PVN M Rad _ MN N f V
9VTVaN CRad _
A few definitions
(from Wikipedia)
HUR aR_ Ra V aUR T ON f aRZ S
V aR_P RPaR P Z baR_ Rad _
a V N Rad _ S Rad _ S ZV V
S _VcNaR bO VP NPN RZVP Ob V R
N T cR_ ZR a Rad _
Uaa 3((R dV V R VN _T(dV V( aR_ Ra
HUR K _ KV R KRO V N V S _ZNaV
NPR dUR_R PbZR a N aUR_
dRO _R b_PR N_R V aR_ V R Of
Uf R_aRea V N PN OR NPPR R
cVN aUR aR_ Ra
Uaa 3((R dV V R VN _T(dV V(K _ MKV RMKRO

4. Actor-NetworkTheory (ANT) Re NV U d ZNaR_VN i RZV aVP Rad _ P ZR
a TRaUR_ a NPa N N dU R HUR R Rad _ N_R a_N VR a ReV aV T V N P aN a
ZN V T N _R&ZN V Th _R NaV RR a OR _R RNaR f m R_S _ZR n _ aUR
Rad _ dV V cR
Uaa 3((R dV V R VN _T(dV V(G PVN M Rad _
Social Network Analysis (SNA) V cR aVTNaR PVN a_bPab_R aU_ bTU T_N U
aUR _VR a PUN_NPaR_VgR a_bPab_R V aR_Z S R V VcV bN NPa _ R R
_ aUV T dVaUV aUR Rad _ N aUR aVR _ R TR _R NaV UV _ V aR_NPaV
aUNa P RPa aURZ
Uaa 3((R dV V R VN _T(dV V(G PVN M Rad _ MN N f V
Digital Networks
A few definitions
(from Wikipedia)
HUR aR_ Ra V aUR T ON f aRZ S
V aR_P RPaR P Z baR_ Rad _
a V N Rad _ S Rad _ S ZV V
S _VcNaR bO VP NPN RZVP Ob V R
N T cR_ ZR a Rad _
Uaa 3((R dV V R VN _T(dV V( aR_ Ra
HUR K _ KV R KRO V N V S _ZNaV
NPR dUR_R PbZR a N aUR_
dRO _R b_PR N_R V aR_ V R Of
Uf R_aRea V N PN OR NPPR R
cVN aUR aR_ Ra
Uaa 3((R dV V R VN _T(dV V(K _ MKV RMKRO

5. 8N B ANd ? FV 6 21/
BN V T aUR 9f NZVP S GPVR PR N HRPU Tf A 3 BNPZV N
Where the conflation started
Instead of following the actors we may
therefore follow the texts KR ZNf a V aUV
dNf SV ba RcR_faUV T aUR_R V a d
NO ba PVR aV a N NO _Na _VR dRcR_
aUR ab f S aRea V dR bVaR a b_
N_aVPb N_ N VZVaR aN 3 aUNa S ab fV T
PVR aVSVP PUN TR
The force of such texts also resides in the fact
that they contain links with other texts
(referencesto the literature),work and
institutions bZ aRea ZN R VO R aUR
P a_bPaV S V NTR ORadRR ReV aV T
R aVaVR N aUR S _ZNaV S cR R aVaVR

6. HUR aUR _RaVPN V RN aUNa P RPaVcR UR ZR N N_R OR a R P_VOR
a Of aURV_ bO aN PR Oba Of aURV_ _R NaV actor-network theory
HUR ZRaU TVPN N RN S _ Rd aRPU V bR a N N f R N
_R _R R a aUR P RPaV ORadRR PVN NPa _ network analysis
, HUR V abVaV aUNa aUR V P_V aV RSa Of P RPaVcR NPaV P b OR
_R& b_ R S _ PVN _R RN_PU network data
;R VPVa b f P S b R Of aUR NZOVTbVaf S aUR d _ k Rad _ l
N P PR abN a Tf aUR NPR S P RPaV N R a aUR
:bP V VN NPR S P _ V NaR
N Ra S P Z baNaV aRPU V bR aUR ZNaURZNaVP S T_N U
, N Uf R_&aReabN _TN VgNaV S V P_V aV aUR _R NaV N NaN Ra
The 3 ingredients of the conflation

7. N aUR _f dVaU ba ZRaU
NPa _& Rad _ aUR _f
A marriage made in heaven
N ZRaU dVaU ba aUR _f
PVN Rad _ N N f V+

8. N aUR _f dVaU ba ZRaU
NPa _& Rad _ aUR _f
…and in earth
N ZRaU dVaU ba aUR _f
PVN Rad _ N N f V+
D PR f b PN TRa V S _ZNaV N O _R OfaR Z RZ P Ra PNO R N
f b UNcR NPabN f N Z _R ZNaR_VN dNf S V T Na dUNa UN R
V G PVRaf Virtual Society thus, is not a thing of the future, it’s the
materialisation, the traceability of Society a _R R_ cV VO R ORPNb R S aUR
O R VcR RPR Vaf S ZNaR_VN V V T V S _ZNaV V a PNO R V a NaN
ANa b_ 7 221
HU bTUa Re R_VZR a V PVN PVR PR3 S_ Z aUR PVN P a_NPa a cV_abN PVRaf
a JV_abN G PVRaf5 6 bN EbO VP ARPab_R 7_b R I VcR_ Vaf A
+

9. KR a a aUR KRO a ab f bO VP RONaR PVR PR N aRPU Tf Oba dR S b
kV bR& Rad _ l V aRN ; dV T Uf R_ V NZ T NTR RN V T dVaU N TVcR
V bR dR S b aUNa aUR R V _ cV R N ZRN a RZN_PNaR aUR Rad _ aUNa P b
OR NV a OR aNTV T aUR P a_ cR_ f V aUR Rd ZR VbZ
BN__R C F TR_ F )). FRPV R S _ H_NPV T aUR ;NaR S bR N aURV_ EbO VP aUR KRO
A 7_b E KRVOR : BN V T HUV T EbO VP N_ _bUR(8NZO_V TR BN 3 L B(B H E_R
Exploiting the relationality of digital
traces for social sciences

10. a V OcV b a a_f a N f aN N_ PVaNaV N N f V aRPU V bR a
aUR dRO l Uf R_aReabN PVaNaV a_bPab_R D R PN VZ f aUV S
RcR_f V N ORV T V R N NPN RZVP PVaNaV
ENTR A 7_V G FNWRRc B HR__f K 221
HUR ENTRFN 8VaNaV FN V T3 7_V TV T D_ R_ a aUR KRO
And the other way around

11. N aUR _f dVaU ba ZRaU
NPa _& Rad _ aUR _f
From conflation comes power
(and responsibility)
N ZRaU dVaU ba aUR _f
PVN Rad _ N N f V
aUR ZNW _ aRPU TVPN N RP ZVP V cNaV S aUR PR ab_f
VTVaN Rad _
+

12. Are We Talking About
the Same Networks?

13. Are We Talking About
the Same Networks?
NO

14. Networks are not networks
EN_aVN Vaf S VTVaN V P_V aV
ANP S RaR_ TR RVaf S R N R TR
, ANP S FRcR_ VOV Vaf S R N Rad _
- 9f NZVP S _R NaV N PUN TR

15. E NaS _Z N_R a aUR KRO
HUR KRO V a aUR aR_ Ra
HUR aR_ Ra V a aUR VTVaN
C a N V P_V aV N_R VTVaN
C a RcR_faUV T TRa V P_V aR
1. Partiality of digital inscriptions
(a) Not everything is digitally traced

16. 7 b VR_ 9 ) . E b_ R PVR PR PVN R R a_ V VpZR To o_NaV 3 R a_NPR
bZo_V bR Nbe _o V bR E B BR TR_ : 7VT 9NaN R a_R _V R Ra PVR PR
PVN R EN_V 3 D R : VaV E_R
1. Partiality of digital inscriptions
(b) Tracing is also translating
1st generation 2nd generation 3rd generation
Concept of social Society/(ies) Opinion(s) Vibration(s)
Type of inscription FRTV aR_ ( bV_VR 6b VR PR(E H_NPR (JVO_NaV
Validation principle :eUNb aVcR R FR _R R aNaVcR R H_NPRNOV Vaf
Major players GaNaR HUR ZN ZR VN 7_N
Operational Actors CNaV N aVabaR E V T _TN V NaV KRO NaS _Z
Authors 9b_ URVZ N b ANgN_ SR 8N ANa b_ ANd

17. [an actor-network] is distinguished from a simple network because its elements are
both heterogeneous and are mutually defined in the course of their association.
8N B 21/ HUR G PV Tf S N 6Pa _&CRad _ 3 HUR 8N R S aUR : RPa_VP JRUVP R B 8N ?
ANd 6 FV : BN V T aUR f NZVP S PVR PR N aRPU Tf 2i,- A 3 BNPZV N
2. Heterogeneity of nodes and edges
(a) heterogeneous nodes and parallel edges

18. 2. Heterogeneity of nodes and edges
(b) negative connections
7 __N : KR aRc_R R : 8VbPPN_R V E N aR O_b R_ 6 JR ab_V V H ) .
G PVRaN 8 a_ cR_ VR V KV V R VN 6_aVP R
E_ PRR V T S aUR ,,_ 6 bN 68B 8 SR_R PR bZN ;NPa _ V 8 Z baV T Gf aRZ
Uaa 3((ddd P a_ R VN Ra( RZ

19. H a_f a S d N NPa _& Rad _ V N OVa V R RSV V T N dNcR&P _ b P R V aUR
2,) 3 N f R aVaf PN OR RVgR RVaUR_ N N NPa _ N P _ b P R _ N N Rad _ N
dNcR It is in this complete reversibility—an actor is nothing but a network, except
that a network is nothing but actors—thatresides the main originality of this theory
ANa b_ 7 ) ) CRad _ G PVRaVR G UR_R 3 FRS RPaV S N 6Pa _&CRad _ HUR _V a aR_ NaV N
GRZV N_ D CRad _ HUR _f3 CRad _ Bb aV VZR V N Vaf HUR 9VTVaN 6TR 6 R OR_T GPU S _
8 ZZb VPNaV N ? b_ N V Z A 6 TR R I VaR GaNaR
3. Reversibility of nodes and networks
(a) Ego-networks VS global networks
Uaa 3((ddd V R UN_R
Ra(TPUR V aV ( PVN &
Rad _ &N N f V &
, 0,)-.

20. 3. Reversibility of nodes and networks
(b) actors VS infrastructures

21. Reality is a process AV R N PURZVPN O f Va N R aU_ bTU bPPR VcR aNaR
8N B 21/O G ZR R RZR a S N PV Tf S a_N NaV 3 ZR aVPNaV S aUR PN N aUR
SV UR_ZR S Ga 7_VRbP 7Nf ? ANd : E dR_ NPaV N OR VRS3 N Rd PV Tf S d R TR5
2/i , A 3 F ba R TR
4. Dynamic of relational change
(a) The puzzle of dynamic networks
ANa b_ 7 BNbTbV
E HRV 22
6 C aR G PV &
aRPU VPN _N U
G PVN Gab VR S
GPVR PR

22. 4. Dynamic of relational change
Rooting through networks
:b R_ 0,/
G baV _ O RZNaV N
TR ZRa_VNZ Vab R_aV R aV

23. 4. Dynamic of relational change
From networks to streams
JR ab_V V H 7NfN ANSSVaR C 8 V aRa ? &E _Nf LNOON J 9R E_fP
) - HU_RR ZN N aU_RR ZV b R_ aN V T 36 VTVaN ZN V T S P VZNaR
V ZNPf 7VT 9NaN G PVRaf

24. Are We Talking About
the Same Networks?
MAYBE

25. 7 aU S aUR R N _ NPUR _RWRPa N _V _V _RVSVPNaV bPU N kaUR PVN l _
k PVRafl 7 aU S aUR R N _ NPUR P V R_ aUR _ bPaV S ZRN V T
N N NPaVcVaf S P RPaV T( V P RPaV T N N N f R U d NPa _ P ZR
a OR P_RNaR aU_ bTU P NO _NaV S aUR_ NPa _ V VSSR_R a
P aRea ; _ O aU N _ NPUR aUR aVR _RPR R aUR R 101
BbagR G ))2 CRad _ N 8b ab_N f 8 aVabaR E_ PR R 3 6 8 Z N_V S
FR NaV N G PV Tf N 6Pa _& Rad _ HUR _f 8b__R a G PV Tf .0 C cRZOR_
))2 10 i110 Uaa 3(( V _T( ) 00()) ,2 )2,- ,
The ties precede
the node and the network

26. Resonance not resemblance
6 VNT_NZ S N Rad _ aUR R
a V R N Rad _ Oba ZNV aNV
aUR NZR bN VaVR S _R NaV i
_ eVZVaVR RT_RR S R N_NaV N
S _aU i aUNa N Rad _ N _R bV_R
V _ R_ a S _Z
FR RZO N PR U b UR_R OR
P V R_R N _R NaV T _NaUR_ aUN N
UVR_N_PUf -
Bb aR_ 6 ) , 6 6R aUR VN S CRad _ 8NZO_V TR BN 3 B H E_R

27. Networks as maps
(Jacob L. Moreno, April 3, 1933, The New York Times)
S dR RcR_ TRa a aUR V a S PUN_aV T N dU R PVaf _ N dU R NaV dR d b
UNcR N V a_VPNaR ZNgR S fPU TVPN _RNPaV dUVPU d b _R R a N VPab_R
S N cN a N_ f aRZ S V aN TVO R a_bPab_R dR_Sb fV S bR PV T P bPa N
T_NcVaNaV R O VR V NPR GbPU N V cV VO R a_bPab_R b R_ VR PVRaf N
UN V V S bR PR V RaR_ZV V T aUR P bPa S PVRaf N N dU R

28. ?NP Zf B JR ab_V V H RfZN G 7N aVN B ) -
; _PR6a N N 8 aV b b _N U ANf ba 6 T _VaUZ
S _ N f CRad _ JV bN VgNaV 9R VT R S _ aUR R UV G SadN_R
E G D R
Force Vector Spatialisation

29. A methodological application
Visual Network Analysis
JR ab_V V H ?NP Zf B
8N_cN U ER_RV_N 9 ) .
JV bN CRad _ 6 N f V
Zo VN NO d _ V T N R_

30. From the Leviathan
to the Japanese rice

31. Continuous but not uniform
8 R _VPR PN OR RSV R
f Of N P a_N VPaV S
bO aN PR4 Va V Na PR
P UR VcR N RaNPUNO R4
Va bO aN aVN R aV NaV V
aUR S_NTZR a aUR P bZ 4
aUR c NaV R P T ZR_NaR
Va P aVabaR V aUR VPab_R
N P Z NPa dUVaR R
T_N b N_ N fRa S_VNO R3
dUNa P ZR a aUR aNO R R R N abP a TRaUR_ P ZR b R Na N
a bPU S aUR PU aVP aU bTU dVaU ba RcR_ PNaaR_V T N VS VcV V
PPb__R f a _ bPR aV N aUR_ V__R bPVO RP UR V
F N 7N_aUR 20) HUR :Z V_R S GVT

32. E_ SR _ j f b U b a P Sb R aUR Rad _ aUNa V _Nd Of aUR
R P_V aV N aUR Rad _ aUNa V b R a ZN R aUR R P_V aV
Gab R a j 5
E_ SR _ j 7ba fR ! Gb_R f f bl NT_RR aUNa _NdV T dVaU N R PV V
a aUR NZR aUV T N _NdV T aUR UN R S N R PV
al aUR NZR dVaU aUV NZOVTb b d _ Rad _
ANa b_ 7 )),
D b V T 6CH S _ ab fV T V S _ZNaV f aRZ 3
N ZRdUNa G P_NaVP VN TbR
8 6cTR_ b 8 8VO __N ; ; AN :
HUR G PVN Gab f S S _ZNaV N 8 ZZb VPNaV Gab f
DeS _ 3 I VcR_ Vaf E_R