overview of network mapping and analysis platforms

Overview of Common Social Network Analysis

Software PlatformsSpring 2009

A Member of The Monitor GroupA Member of The Monitor Group

http://www.packard.org/

2

Overview and Methodology

Authors– This report was developed by the Philanthropy and Networks Exploration, a partnership

between the Packard Foundation and Monitor Institute. The exploration is an inquiry into how networks can facilitate greater philanthropic effectiveness

Purpose– The guide is intended to provide an overview of social network analysis tools available– For each tool we outline the primary application as well as the pros and cons for each platform

Sources and Methodology– Software tools were identified from:

The International Network for Social Network Analysis’s software catalogue1

Social network literature2

Resources made available online by social network analysis experts including Bruce Hoppe, Steve Borgatti, and Valdis Krebs

– Comments on usability and functionality are based on our initial experimentation with those tools that could be downloaded for use; the exception is Smart Networks Analyzer, which we have used more extensively

(1) http://www.insna.org/INSNA/soft_inf.html(2) Huisman, M. & van Duijn, M. A. J. (2005). Software for Social Network Analysis. In Peter J. Carrington, John Scott, & Stanley Wasserman (Eds.)

"Models and Methods in Social Network Analysis" (pp. 270-316). Cambridge University Press.

3

Summary of Social Network Analysis Tool Types

TypeType DescriptionDescription

Advanced / Academic Social Network Analysis Tools

Accessible but Advanced Social Network Analysis Tools

Simple, Easy to Use Social Network Analysis Tools

Often used in academic settings and intended for the most sophisticated types of social network analysis

Often built for performance as opposed to usability User guides and help files are not comprehensive or are written for more

sophisticated audiences Example: UCINET

Used in more general settings, including corporate environments Built with the user in mind and tend to be more intuitive and easier to use than tools

for primarily academic applications Software help files are more comprehensive and user guides are written for a

general user audience Example: NetMiner

Can be used by users less familiar with social network analysis Tools are built without complex functionality and are very easy to navigate and

use Help files are simple and clear Example: Smart Network Analyzer

The SNA tools we surveyed can be broken into the following broad categories:

Online Tools That Enable Visualization of Preexisting User Generated Data

Used to analyze existing data made available by users Often simple to use with intuitive functionality Example: Xigi

4

Release Timeline

A partial history of when social network analysis tools first emerged, based on the limited information available on software release dates:

1987: UCINET

1996: Pajek

1998: StOCNET

1999: Otter

2001: NetVis Module, NetMiner

2002: Visone

2004: Cross Network Analytics

2007: Sentinel Visualizer, Friend Wheel, ONA Surveys, Net-Map Toolbox

2008: ManyEyes, Nexus, Mutual Friend Network Visualization, TouchGraph Navigator, KeyHubs

5


In-Depth Profile: UCINET / NetDraw

UCINET / NetDraw URL: http://www.analytictech.com Description:

– UCINET is a downloadable software program that can read and write social network data files

– NetDraw is bundled with UCINET and used to read and display network visualizations

– UCINET is widely used in academia– The UCINET file format can be used with a number of other analysis and

visualization platforms Environments: Primarily used in academic environments; UCINET is also used by

consultants that have developed customized versions of the software to suit more specific needs

Cost: Free for individual use; $250 for a business license Released: 1987 Pros:

– Significant flexibility to import data from different files formats, including Excel– Can support more complex types of network analysis; compatible with many

different visualization platforms Cons:

– More difficult to use for simple social network analysis tasks– Online help resources are intended for more sophisticated audiences– Difficult to filter data that is being viewed– NetDraw’s visualization does not allow for formatting of output

6


In-Depth Profile: ONA Surveys

UCINET / NetDraw URL: http://www.onasurveys.com/ Description:

– A survey data processing tool that creates output for use in UCINET / NetDraw

Environments: Primarily used in academic environments; UCINET is also used by consultants that have developed customized versions of the software to suit more specific needs

Cost: Free for limited features, $40/mo for nonprofit use

7


Other Tools

GUESS URL: http://graphexploration.cond.org Description: A data analysis and visualization tool for graphs and

networks Environments: Academic Cost: Free Pros: Multiple visualization options, ability to customize and modify the

GUESS interface Cons: Utilizes a console for users to enter in commands; potentially

more difficult for newer users

StOCNET URL: http://stat.gamma.rug.nl/stocnet Description: An open source platform for more advanced social network analysis

including network statistics and visual modeling Environments: Academic Cost: Free Released: 1998 Pros: Incorporates modern advanced statistical methods into a software tool Cons: Difficult to use; documentation has not been updated; output is not easy to

manipulate

8


Other Tools

Otter URL: http://www.caida.org/tools/visualization/otter/ Description: Otter is used for visualizing a variety of types of

network data, including Internet data, topology data, and web site structure data

Environments: Academic Cost: Free Released: 1999 Pros: Able to handle many different types of formatted data

sets Cons: Limited functionality for formatting output and filtering

nodes

NetVis Module URL: http://www.netvis.org/ Description: An open source web-based tool to analyze and

visualize social networks using data from Excel files and online surveys

Environments: Academic Release year: 2001 Cost: Free Pros: Web-based, simple for users to load data Cons: Slow to process data; complicated user interface; limited

visualization functionality for formatting output

9


Other Tools

Pajek URL: http://pajek.imfm.si/doku.php Description: A program used for the analysis and visualization of large

networks Environments: Academic Cost: Free Released: 1996 Pros: Good online documentation for using the software; advanced

functionality for analyzing data Cons: Difficult to use; primarily intended for more complex mappings of

very large networks

SoNIA URL: http://www.stanford.edu/group/sonia/ Description: A Java-based platform for visualizing longitudinal

network data that shows how networks are formed over time Environments: Academic Cost: Free Pros: Relatively simple to use Cons: Lacks advanced functionality for formatting output;

primarily intended for longitudinal data that shows the evolution and change of networks over time

10


Other Tools

Commetrix URL: http://www.commetrix.de/ Description (from Wikipedia): “Commetrix is a

Software Framework and Tool for Dynamic Network Analysis and Visualization. It provides easy exploratory access to network graphs and has been applied to study co-authorship, Instant Messaging, manual SNA surveys, e-mail, newsgroups, etc. Each node and each linking event can have properties, e.g. types of messages or rank of nodes, but also types, topics, or time stamps. This allows animations of network growth, structural change, and topic diffusion. A short introductory video is available on the website.”

Environments: Any Cost: Unknown, commercial licenses are

available but nonprofit use may be free

11


Other Tools

SocNetV URL: http://socnetv.sourceforge.net/index.html Description (from the website): “Social Networks

Visualiser (SocNetV) is a flexible and user-friendly tool for the analysis and visualisation of Social Networks. It lets you construct networks (mathematical graphs) with a few clicks on a virtual canvas or load networks of various formats (GraphViz, GraphML, Adjacency, Pajek, UCINET, etc) and modify them to suit your needs. The application can compute basic network properties, such as density, diameter and distances (shortest path lengths), as well as more advanced structural statistics, such as node and network centralities (i.e. closeness, betweeness, graph), clustering coefficient, etc.”

Environments: Any Cost: Free (open-source)

12


In-Depth Profile: NetMiner

NetMiner URL: www.netminer.com Description:

– NetMiner is an software tool for exploratory analysis and visualization of network data

– The tool is able to handle large amounts of data and enables the user to conduct both simple and more advanced types of analysis, including a number of statistical procedures

– Data can be visualized based on several different types of network visualization algorithms and statistical results can be charted using graphs

Environments: Because NetMiner is both user friendly and statistically powerful, it is suitable for a range of audiences including academic, corporate, and general consumer use

Released: 2001 Cost: Student use – $40; Commercial use – $980 Pros:

– Convenient and intuitive user interface, easy to use for less advanced users– Good user support through help files built into the platform as well

documentation on using the software online– Advanced functionality to conduct multiple types of statistical analyses and

visualizations Cons:

– Requires a basic level of technical sophistication and familiarity with social network analysis

13


In-Depth Profile: Visone

Visone URL: http://visone.info/ Description:

– Used for the research and teaching of social network analysis. – Run in JAVA and can be downloaded or used via the web– Enables the user to run multiple types of visualizations based on common

scientific algorithms; users can also calculate metrics based on social network data

Environments: Visone is commonly used in academic environments; it is also suitable for a wider audience because it is more affordable and easier to use than most academic platforms with similar functionality

Cost: Free Released: 2002 Pros:

– Clean looking and intuitive user interface– Advanced capability to output multiple types of visualizations

Cons: – Lack of help files integrated within the software platform– Online user’s manual to conducting analyses is not comprehensive and

other online software documentation is intended for more sophisticated academic audiences

14


Other Tools

InFlow (Valdis Krebs) URL: http://www.orgnet.com/inflow3.html Description: InFlow is a set of proprietary network tools for visualizing and

analyzing networks based on user generated data to determine where gaps and effective network connections exist

Environments: Corporate, academic, non-profit Cost: $995 per seat and site license options Pros: Good reputation; user friendly; includes visualization and metrics Cons: JAVA platform can sometimes be slow; data must be precisely

formatted

Network Evaluation Tool (Cross Network Analytics) URL: https://webapp.comm.virginia.edu/NetworkRoundtable/ Description: Automates data collection and social network analysis;

only available to Network Roundtable (Rob Cross’s consultancy) members

Environments: Corporate Released: 2004 Cost: Network Roundtable membership ($12,500 per year) Pros: Appears to have advanced functionality Cons: Requires membership to Network Roundtable

15


Other Tools

Sentinel Visualizer URL: http://www.fmsasg.com/Products/SentinelVisualizer/ Description: Advanced proprietary social network analysis tool intended

for government and corporate use; target audiences include intelligence analysts, law enforcement, investigators, and researchers

Environments: Government, corporate Released: 2007 Cost: $2,500 per user Pros: Advanced capabilities for visualizing social networks in

alternative formats, such as geospatial views, timelines, and 3D displays

Cons: More expensive than many other options

16


Other Tools

TouchGraph Navigator URL: http://www.touchgraph.com/navigator.html Description: A powerful network graphing tool that has reasonably strong database

features. Environments: Organizations Released: 2008 Cost: $500 per copy Pros:

– Attractive output– Powerful filters– Clustering– Uses the network diagram as an interface for organizing and accessing additional

data tables Cons:

– Not free (although not pricey)– Not as simple to use– Not web-based unless you want to pay a high fee

17


In-Depth Profile: Smart Networks Analyzer

Smart Networks Analyzer (Developed by Valdis Krebs, used by June Holley) URL: N/A Description:

– A simplified version of Valdis Krebs’s InFlow that is run through a desktop software platform

– Allows the user to simply view and analyze social network data imported from a formatted text file

Environments: Primarily non-profit organizations Cost: Consulting (training) and licensing fee Pros:

– Very easy for non-experts in social network analysis to format data files– Enables users to simply load, filter, and visualize data– Intuitive user interface that allows user to filter data by network and node

attribute Cons:

– Lacks more advanced functionality for using complex and scientific visualization algorithms

– Inability to do complicated formatting of output, including setting the coloring and shape of nodes

– Software can be slow, especially when conducting visualizations and exporting images

– Software must be precisely formatted according to a number of rules

18


In-Depth Profile: Many Eyes

URL: http://manyeyes.alphaworks.ibm.com/manyeyes/

Description: – A free general-purpose data

visualization site that contains a simple network diagramming tool

– Allows anyone to upload data to the library and visualize it using any one of a variety of types of diagrams

Environments: Cross-sectoral Cost: Free Released: 2008 Pros:

– Quick to learn, free, and easy to use Cons:

– No advanced network analysis or visualization features

19


In-Depth Profile: Nexus

URL: http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2415325843#/apps/application.php?id=5303167721&ref=s

Description: – A visualization tool designed

specifically for charting Facebook social networks

Environments: Facebook Cost: Free Released: 2008 Pros:

– Visually attractive interface– Simple to use– Facebook integration

Cons: – Works only with Facebook and no

other data source (or social networking site)

– Just two charting modes with little further design flexibility

20


In-Depth Profile: Mutual Friend Network Visualization

URL: http://danielmclaren.net/node/77 Description:

– A visualization tool designed specifically for charting Facebook social networks


– Visually attractive interface– Simple to use– Facebook integration



21


In-Depth Profile: Friend Wheel

URL: http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2415325843

Description: – An alternative type of network diagram

designed specifically for showing social networks on Facebook


– Visually attractive output– Simple to use– Facebook integration



– Ego-centric design is not effective for charting larger networks

22


In-Depth Profile: Facebook Visualizer

URL: http://vansande.org/facebook/visualiser/

Description: – A network diagram of Facebook

friends that uses profile photos Environments: Facebook Cost: Free Pros:

– Shows friends’ actual faces – Facebook integration– Filters using a number of different

variables Cons:

– Works only with Facebook and no other data source (or social networking site)

– Slow and hard to navigate

23


In-Depth Profile: TouchGraph Facebook

URL: http://www.touchgraph.com/TGFacebookBrowser.html

Description: – A network diagram of Facebook

friends that uses profile photos Environments: Facebook Cost: Free Pros:

– Shows friends’ actual faces – Facebook integration– Powerful set of filters– Clusters are helpful for navigation



24


In-Depth Profile: Keyhubs

URL: http://www.keyhubs.com/ Description:

– A network-diagramming web service designed specifically for surfacing informal networks in organizations

Environments: Organizations and other small groups

Cost: Free for surveys of up to 10 people, $99/mo for unlimited size

Released: 2008 Pros:

– Includes survey features for gathering data

– Simple and easy to use Cons:

– Works only with its own survey data– No advanced network analysis

features

25


In-Depth Profile: Net-Map Toolbox

URL: http://netmap.wordpress.com/ Description (from the website):

– “Net-Map is an interview-based mapping tool that helps people understand, visualize, discuss, and improve situations in which many different actors influence outcomes. By creating Influence Network Maps, individuals and groups can clarify their own view of a situation, foster discussion, and develop a strategic approach to their networking activities. More specifically, Net-Map helps players to determine

what actors are involved in a given network, how they are linked, how influential they are, and what their goals are.

– Determining linkages, levels of influence, and goals allows users to be more strategic about how they act in these complex situations. It helps users to answer questions such as: Do you need to strengthen the links to an influential potential supporter (high influence, same goals)? Do you have to be aware of an influential actor who doesn’t share your goals? Can increased networking help empower your dis-empowered beneficiaries?

– The tool is low-tech and low-cost and can be used when working with rural community members with low formal education as well as with policy makers or international development actors.”

Environments: Nonprofits and any small group Cost: Free Released: 2007

26

Online Tools That Enable Visualization of Preexisting User Generated Data

Xigi.net URL: http://www.xigi.net/ Description: Utilizes data provided by users to create network maps

showing connections among organizations and people

27

Survey Collection Tools

Network Genie URL: https://secure.networkgenie.com Description: Network Genie allows users to design and manage surveys for

gathering data for social network maps Environments: General use Costs: Free Pros: Free, web-based Cons: Complicated user interface, limited functionality and customizability for

advanced survey questions

overview of network mapping and analysis platforms

Technology

social network literature

international network

data analysis

smart network analyzer

cross network analytics

online tools

academic environments

methodology software