Dienstag, 13. Jänner 2004

Dynamics of Networks and Behavior Satellite symposium, May 10-11, 2004, connected to the XXIV Sunbelt Conference in Portorož, Slovenia (May 12-16, 2004) Announcement. This two-day symposium is about methods, models, and empirical applications concerning the mutual influence between the dynamics of relational networks and the dynamics of individual behavior (including individual attitudes, performance, etc.). The focus is on linking theoretical, statistical, and substantive empirical research on dynamics in complete networks. The symposium is a satellite meeting to the XXIV Sunbelt Conference in Portorož, Slovenia (May 12-16, 2004). The symposium focuses on topics such as: mutual influence between friendship and smoking, drug taking, or other lifestyle or health-related behaviors; the genesis and evolution of norms in networks; dynamics of networks and economic performance; dynamics of communication patterns and communication behavior; statistical methods for the dynamics of networks and behavior; visualization of network dynamics. The purpose is an intensive exchange between researchers interested in substantive questions concerning the mutual influence between relational networks, and researchers interested in methodological issues concerning this domain. All speakers are urged to pay attention to the two-way influence between network dynamics and the dynamics of behavior/attitudes/performance, even if the focus of their own research is on only one of these two causal directions. New versions of the StOCNET and SIENA software, which can be used for the statistical analysis of the simultaneous dynamics of networks and behavior, will be made available to the participants well in advance. There will be about 20 presentations, all on invitation, some of which will have a workshop-like character (e.g., show how to work with new software for analysis or visualization). In addition to invited speakers and their co-authors (about 30 researchers), 20 additional participants can register. For these participants, the registration fee will be €50 (€ 25 for those who can argue that they are entitled to a reduction). Registration for this symposium can only be done via Sunbelt website . The location will be the same as the location of the Sunbelt meeting. Starting time is 9.00 am, May 10, 2004. There will be a social meeting on Sunday night for those who like to come. The preliminary program of the symposium can be found here. The symposium is organized by Tom Snijders and associated to the research program Dynamics of Networks and Behavior which is a collaborative programme of the universities of Groningen and Utrecht (Research Center and Graduate school ICS) and Maastricht (Department of Health Promotion and Health Education). 2:12:59 PM

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FAS.research ABSTRACTS 2004 SUNBELT XXIV  International Sunbelt Social Network Conference May 12 - 16, 2004   What makes SCIENCES INNOVATIVE? The measurement of innovation potential and its application in the Austrian academic research network     First Author: Wolfgang Neurath Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Labour A-1011 Wien, Stubenring 1, Austria wolfgang.neurath@bmwa.gv.at     Second Author: Harald Katzmair, Director FAS.research A-1090 Vienna, Müllnergasse 3/1, Austria harald.katzmair@fas.at        What makes SCIENCES INNOVATIVE? The measurement of innovation potential and its application in the Austrian academic research network   Most recent research on the structure of innovative networks has identified three main factors underlying the innovation capacity and robustness of successful networks: first, the structural embedded ability to broker between different sources of information and problem-solving strategies (including the capacity to stand unbalanced triads); second, the diversity and multi-dimensionality of the network; third, the overall structure of the innovation landscape (existence of percolating clusters adapted for “adaptive walks” and learning behavior). While there are sound models for measuring the brokerage ability of networks (Gould Fernandez indices, Burt indices, E-I index etc.) as well as the overall structure of the innovation landscape (domain analysis, fragmentation coefficient, clustering coefficient, overall network centrality etc.) techniques to model the comparative diversity of networks are far less standardized. This paper presents several approaches to measuring the innovation potential derived from the field of complexity theory, ecology and the neo-Schumpeter informed tradition of innovation theory. The practical application of these models is illustrated by the example of the collaboration network of 1050 academic disciplines and subdisciplines. Data is compiled from more than 5000 academic research projects funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) between 1995 and 2003.     DYNAMIZING STATIC NETWORKS – Simulation experiments in the context of power structures   First Author: Harald Katzmair, Director FAS.research A-1090 Vienna, Müllnergasse 3/1, Austria harald.katzmair@fas.at     Second Author: Jürgen Pfeffer FAS.research A-1090 Vienna, Müllnergasse 3/1, Austria pfeffer@bsa.at       DYNAMIZING STATIC NETWORKS – Simulation experiments in the context of power structures   Drawing on models from the field of complexity theory (adaptive walks on rugged power landscapes), clustering theory and E-state structuralism the paper contributes to current efforts in dynamic network analysis (DNA). Taking a certain network structure, the paper focuses on how to identify the most influential attractor in the k-step environment of an individual node. The aim of the paper is to present several algorithms which simulate the future behavior of a given static network (probabilistic scenario analysis). The paper describes the basic assumptions of these models as well as the technical structure of the algorithms. The practical application of these models is illustrated by the example of the directorial interlock network of the Austrian fortune 2500 enterprises.     Covering the elite structure of a modern western society. The case of Austria.    First Author: Doris Spielthenner, Research Assistance FAS.research A-1090 Vienna, Müllnergasse 3/1, Austria doris.spielthenner@fas.at   Other Authors: Ruth Pfosser, Research Assistance FAS.research A-1090 Vienna, Müllnergasse 3/1, Austria ruth.pfosser@fas.at     Christian Gulas, Research Assistance FAS.research A-1090 Vienna, Müllnergasse 3/1, Austria christian.gulas@fas.at   Maximilian Ruhri, Research Assistance FAS.research A-1090 Vienna, Müllnergasse 3/1, Austria maximilian.ruhri@fas.at   Harald Katzmair, Director FAS.research A-1090 Vienna, Müllnergasse 3/1, Austria harald.katzmair@fas.at       Covering the elite structure of a modern western society. The case of Austria.   The paper presents first findings of a long-term research project on the social morphology of the economical, technological and cultural key sectors of Austrian society. Drawing on compiled information on 120,000 Austrian opinion leaders and over 10,000 affiliations (directoral board memberships, juries, event participation, event locations, memberships in professional and private associatations, VIP lists etc.) the paper compares the specific structural characteristics (group centrality, power law distribution; fragmentation rate, degree correlation etc.) as well as the interconnectedness (brokerage roles, E-I index) of the following sectors and areas: economy (fortune 2500), media & advertisment, medicine & health, science & technology, high society networks (local celebreties, VIP´s etc.); The underlying data sources range from the commercial register, television, newspapers and gossip columns to membership lists, best-of–rankings, biographical sources and internet databases.       1:38:40 PM

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