Networks in the Social Sciences: Comparing Actor-Network Theory and Social Network Analysis

Vicsek, Lilla Mária and Király, Gábor and Kónya, Hanna (2016) Networks in the Social Sciences: Comparing Actor-Network Theory and Social Network Analysis. CORVINUS JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL POLICY, 7 (2). pp. 77-102. ISSN 2061-5558

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Abstract

While the subject of networks has been an issue in the social sciences for decades, it can still be regarded as one of the concepts significant enough to excite the imagination of both theorists and empirical researchers. Because of this interest, many different types of approaches to networks have been developed. In many cases these theoretical and analytical developments have occurred relatively independently from each other, using different vocabularies and research styles. This paper presents two prominent network approaches—namely, Actor-Network Theory (ANT) and Social Network Analysis (SNA)—in order to highlight the similarities and differences between the two. Besides providing a comparison, the paper discusses the potentially fruitful convergence of these two theories. We argue that ANT researchers could benefit from using certain SNA methods (such as visualization techniques and quantitative measures), whilst SNA researchers would benefit from developing new theoretical and empirical ideas about how to introduce non-human actors into networks that also contain humans.

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