The theory and methodology of the network approach in researches of Russian online-communities | South-Russian Journal of Social Sciences
The theory and methodology of the network approach in researches of Russian online-communities
Vol. 19 (2018) No. 2, Political Institutions and Processes
Vol. 19 (2018) No. 2
Political Institutions and Processes

The theory and methodology of the network approach in researches of Russian online-communities

Stepanova E.A.
Kuban State University
PDF (Russian)

How to Cite Array

Stepanova E.A. (2018) The theory and methodology of the network approach in researches of Russian online-communities. South-Russian Journal of Social Sciences, 19 (2), pp. 50-66. (In Russian)
Submission Date 2017-11-23
Accepted Date 2018-03-12
Published Date 2018-06-07

Copyright (c) 2018 Екатерина Андреевна Степанова

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

This article analyses the transformation of network approach research in different areas of science, its use in anthropology, sociology and political science, as one of the most flexible research tools. For a long time the theory of network approach has developed within the framework of natural science, but with the appearance of “network field” and “social network” concepts supported by the spreading of the Internet, researchers in the humanities also got interested in this approach. Due to the change in and the expansion of methodology, network approach has become an accessible research tool for both sociologists and political scientists. Russian political scientists have added network analysis to their toolkit comparatively recently.
This paper examines the structure and basic characteristics of network analysis, as well as its advantages over other research methods. Now that the Internet is so popular, the network approach methodology is most relevant, because it allows to research complex social networks and the interrelationship between their actors. One of the most expressive features of modern social networks is the transition from online- to offline-space to achieve their own goals and to solve problems. This phenomenon is studied in the given article on the material of parents’ online-communities. Parents’ communities are divided into networks for moms and dads: male online-networks are only evolving, while female networks are numerous and active. These communities not only differ in their goals and objectives, but they also differently affect the solution of local policy problems by transition from online- to offline-space.

Keywords

network approach methodology, network analysis, online-space, online-social networks, network communities, female online-communities, male online-communities, the transition from online- to offline-space

Acknowledgements

The study was carried out through the financial support of the Russian Fund of Fundamental Research (RFFR), as part of the scientific project «Network Resources of the Development of Local Policy under New Political Reality” (№ 15–33–01313, 2015–2017, supervised by N. A. Ryabchenko).

References

  1. Aronson, D. (1970). Editor’s Preface. Canadian Review of Social Anthropology, 7, 221–225.
  2. Barnes, J. (1954). Class and Committees in a Norwegian Island Parish. Human Relations, 1 (7), 39–58.
  3. Barnes, J. (1983). Graph theory in Network Analysis. Social Networks, 5, 235–244.
  4. Bikkulov, A. S. & Chugunov, A.V. (2013). Setevoy podhod v sotsial’noy informatike: modelirovanie ekonomicheskikh protsessov i issledovaniya v sotsial’nyih setyakh [Network Approach in Social Informatics: Modelling of Social and Economic Processes and Research in Social Networks]. SPb.: Izd-vo ITMO.
  5. Boissevain, J. & Mitchell, J. (1973). Network analysis. Studies in Human Interaction. The Hague: Mouton.
  6. Boissevain, J. (1979). Network Analysis: A Reappraisal. Current Anthropology, 2 (20), 392–394.
  7. Bott, E. (1957). Family and Social Network: Roles, Norms and External Relationships in Ordinary Urban Families. London: Tavistock.
  8. Burt, R. (1980). Models of Network Structure. Annual Review of Sociology, 6, 79–141.
  9. Chernova, Zh. V. (2013). Roditel’stvo v sovremennoy Rossii: politika gosudarstva i grazhdanskie initsiativy [Parenthood in Modern Russia: State Policy and Civic Initiatives]. Monitoring obshchestvennogo mneniya [Monitoring of Public Opinion], 7 (113), 51–61.
  10. Chernova, Zh.V. (2012). Soobshchestva roditeley: novyie formy solidarnosti i resursy mobilizatsii. [Parent communities: new forms of solidarity and mobilization resources]. Zhenshchina v rossijskom obshchestve [Woman in Russian society], 3, 36–52
  11. Degterev, D. A. (2015). Setevoy analiz mezhdunarodnykh otnosheniy. [Network analysis of International Rlations]. Bulletin of St. Petersburg State University, 6, 119–138.
  12. Elektronnyj zhurnal “Batya” [The Electronic Journal “Batya”]. Retrieved from http://rusbatya.ru
  13. Gluckman, M. (1955). Custom and Conflict in Africa. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
  14. Gnedash, A. A. (2012). Konstruktivnyi i destruktivnyi potentsial zhenskikh sotsialnyikh setey i soobshchestv v reshenii problem sovremennoy sotsial’noy politiki v RF [Constructive and destructive potential of female social networks and communities in solving of problems of modern social policy in Russia]. Zhenshchina v rossijskom obshchestve [Woman in Russian society], 3 (64), 59–63.
  15. Gnedash, A. A. (2012). Resursy, tipy i funktsii zhenskikh online-sotsial’nyih setey v publichnoy politike [The Resources, Types and Functions of Women’s Online-Social Networks in Public Policy]. In Setevye resursy i praktiki v publichnoj politike [Network Resources and Practices in Public Policy] (Materials of the All-Russian Conference of Young Political Scientists). Krasnodar: Prosveshchenie-Yug.
  16. Gnedash, A. A. (2012). Zhenskie soobshchestva v online-prostranstve: «rezhimy vidimosti» v publichnoy politike RF [Women’s communities in online space: «modes of visibility» in public policy of the Russian Federation]. Human. Community. Management, 1, 97–104.
  17. Gnedash, A. A., Ryabchenko, N. A. (2014). Tipy polzovateley online sotsial’nyih setey: teoretiko-metodologicheskie osnovaniya dlya klassifikatsii [Types of Online Networks Users: Theoretical and Methodological Basis for Classification.]. In Internet i sovremennoe obshchestvo [Internet and Modern Society] (Materials of XVII All-Russian Joint Conference) (pp. 143–148). Sankt-Peterburg.
  18. Gnedash, A. A. & Ryabchenko, N. A. (2014). Online i offline sotsial’nyie seti: k voprosu o matematicheskom obosnovanii stohasticheskoy modeli funktsionirovaniya [Online and Offline Social Networks: on the Mathematical Justification of the Stochastic Modal]. Political expertise: Politex, 3 (10), 91–100.
  19. Gradoselskaya, G. V. (2001). Setevoy analiz kak metod issledovaniya sovremennykh transformatsiy. [Network Analysis as a Method of Research into Modern Transformations]. Sotsialno-ekonomicheskaya transformatsiya v Rossii: nauchnyie doklady [Socio-Economic Transformation in Russia: Scientific Reports]. Moscow Public Scientific Foundation, pp. 43–76.
  20. Gradoselskaya, G. V. (2004). Setevyie izmereniya v sotsiologii [Network measurements in sociology]. Moskva: Novyj uchebnik.
  21. Internet-portal “Mir pap” [Web portal “The World of Dads”] (2018). Retrieved from http://mirpap.ru.
  22. Miroshnichenko, I. V. & Morozova, E. V. (2011). Setevye soobshchestva v usloviiakh chrezvychainykh situatsii: novye vozmozhnosti dlia grazhdan i dlia vlasti [Network Communities in the Conditions of Emergency Situations: New Opportunities for Citizens and Power]. Polis. Politicheskie issledovaniya [Polis. Political Studies], 1, 141–153.
  23. Miroshnichenko, I. V. (2013) Sotsial’nyie seti v rossiyskoy publichnoy politike [Social Networks in the Public Russian Policy] (Abstract of the Doct. Dissertation). Moskva.
  24. Miroshnichenko, I. V. (2013). Setevoy landshaft rossiyskoy publichnoy politiki [Network Landscape of the Russian Public Policy]. Krasnodar: Prosveshchenie-Yug.
  25. Miroshnichenko, I. V. (2013). Setevoy podhod v politicheskikh issledovaniyah: soderzhanie i napravlenie razvitiya [Network Approach in Political Studies: Content and Trends]. Chelovek. Soobshchestvo. Upravlenie [Human. Community. Management], 3, 68–86.
  26. Miroshnichenko, I. V. (2014). Setevoy podhod v politicheskikh issledovaniyakh — seti v publichnoy politike [Network Approach in Political Research — Networks in Public Policy]. Political Science: Yearbook, 8–27.
  27. Miroshnichenko, I. V., Morozova, E. V. (2016). Transformatsiya politicheskikh institutov v prostranstve setevogo frontira [Transformation of Political Institutions in Network Frontir’s Space]. Politbook [Politbook], 3, 36–49.
  28. Miroshnichenko, I. V., Ryabchenko, N. A. (2015). Setevyie resursy razvitiya lokalnoy politiki [Network Resources of Development of Local Policy]. Srednerusskiy vestnik obshchestvennyh nauk [Central Russian Journal of Social Sciences], 5 (10), 38–49.
  29. Moreno, J. (1934). Who shall survive? Nervous and Mental Disease Publishing Co. Washington.
  30. O Sozdanii kraevogo Soveta otcov pri Administraciy Altayskogo kraya: postanovlenie Administraciy Altayskogo kraya ot 21 oktyabrya 2011 goda [On the Establishment of the Regional Council of Fathers under the Administration of the Altai Territory: Resolution of the Administration of the Altai Territory of October 21], 2011. Retrieved from http://xn——dtbe2aqa1a6a7e.xn—p1ai/docs/37-region-docs/postanovlenie-administratsii-altajskogo-kraya-o-sozdanii-kraevogo-soveta-ottsov-pri-administratsii-altajskogo-kraya
  31. Oehler, K., Sheppard, St. (2010). The Potential of Social Network Analysis for Research of the Cultural Sector. Retrieved from http://www.c-3-d.org/library/pdfs/NetworkAnalysisAndCulture.pdf.
  32. Official site HeForShe (2017). Retrieved from http://www.heforshe.org/en
  33. Oficial’naya gruppa “Odinokiy papa” v social’noy seti “VKontakte” [The Official Group “The Lonely Dad” in the Social Network “VKontakte”] (2018). Retrieved from http://vk.com/onlyonedad
  34. Oficial’nyy sayt issledovaniya Digital-mam [The Official Website Site of “The Digital-mom” Study] (2018). Retrieved from http://digitalmama.com.ua.
  35. Oficial’nyy sayt social’noy seti “Strana mam” [The Official Website of the Social Network “The Country Mothers”] (2018). Retrieved from http://stranamam.ru
  36. Oficial’nyy sayt soobshchestva “Deti.mail” [The Official Website of “The Children.mail” Community] (2018). Retrieved from http://deti.mail.ru
  37. Oficial’nyy sayt soobshchestva “Gorod mam” [The Official Website of “The City of Moms” Community] (2018). Retrieved from http://gorodmam.ru
  38. Oficial’nyy sayt soobshchestva “Mama.ru” [The Official Website of “The Mama.ru” Community] (2018). Retrieved from http://mama.ru
  39. Oficial’nyy sayt soobshchestva “Materinstvo” [The Official Website of “The Motherhood” Community] (2018). Retrieved from http://materinstvo.ru
  40. Oficial’nyy sayt soobshchestva “Sem’ya” [The Official Website of “The Family” Community] (2018). Retrieved from http://7ya.ru
  41. Parsons, T. (1966). The Concept of Society: The Components and their Interrelations. Societies: Evolutionary and Comparative Perspectives. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.
  42. Pediatricheskiy server dlya roditeley “Chado.ru” [The Pediatric Server for Parents “The Chado.ru”] (2018). Retrieved from http://chado.ru
  43. Pervaya onlayn-ehnciklopediya dlya otcov [The First Online Encyclopaedia for Fathers] (2018). Retrieved from http://ipapa.pro
  44. Radcliff-Brown, A. (1940). On Social Structure. The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, 1 (70), 1–12.
  45. Reyting populyarnosti Mail.ru [Popularity rating Mail.ru] (2018). Retrieved from http://top.mail.ru/rating/house-children/month/visitors
  46. Ryabchenko, N. A. (2012). Institutsionalizatsiya publichnoy politiki v online-prostranstve sovremennoy Rossii: etapy, aktory, tekhnologii [Institutionalization of Public Policy in the Online-space of Today Russia: stages, actors, technologies] (Abstract of the Cand. Dissertation). Krasnodar.
  47. Ryabchenko, N. А. & Gnedash, А. А. (2016). Civic Tech Communities as a Modern Practice Of Social Reality Changes In The Era Of Digital Transformation. International Journal of Control Theory and Applications, 9 (35), 49–57.
  48. Ryabchenko, N. А., Miroshnichenko, I. V., Gnedash & А. А., Morozova, E. V. (2016). Crowdsourcing systems on facebook platform: Experiment in implementation of mathematical methods in social research. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Information Technology, 85, 136–145.
  49. Sayt ot pap dlya pap [The Official Website “From Dads for Dads”] (2018). Retrieved from http://papapapa.ru
  50. Sayt piterskih roditeley “LittleOne” [The Official Website of the St. Petersburg’s Parents “The LittleOne”] (2018). Retrieved from http://littleone.ru
  51. Sazanov, V. M. (2010). Sotsial’nyie seti kak novaya obshchestvennaya sreda [Social Networks as a New Social Environment. System Analysis and Forecast]. Moskva: Laboratoriya SVM.
  52. Smorgunov, L. V. (2001). Setevoj podhod k politike i upravleniju [Network Approach to Policy and Management]. Polis. Politicheskie issledovanija [Polis: Political Studies], 3, 103–113.
  53. Sovet ottsov — ottsovskie initsiativy. Altayskiy kray [Council of Fathers — Father’s Initiatives. Altai Region]. Retrieved from http://xn--dtbe2aqa1a6a7e.xn-p1ai/advices
  54. Suslov, S. I. (2016). Simulyatsiya ekho-kamer v setevom analize online-soobshchestv v sotsial’noy seti “VKontakte” na primere peterburgskogo politicheskogo segmenta seti [Echo Chamber’s Simulation in Social Network Analysis of Online Communities in Social Network “VKontakte” by the example of the St. Petersburg political network segment]. Teorii i problemy politicheskoy nauki [Theories and Problems of Political Science], 3, 136–146.
  55. Ushkin, S. G. (2015). Otnosheniya druzhby v virtualnykh sotsial’nykh setyakh (na primere sotsial’noy seti “VKontakte”). [Relations of Friendship in Virtual Social Network (as Exemplified by Social Network Vkontakte)]. Socium i vlast’ [Social Life and Power], 5 (56), 71–76.
  56. Whitten, N. & Wolfe, A. (1974). Network Analysis. Handbook of Social and Cultural Anthropology. Chicago, 717–746.