[Air-L] Researching Online Networks Using VOSON (ACSPRI Summer Program Course)

[Robert Ackland]

Dates:      19-23 January, 2009
Location:   The Australian National University, Canberra
Instructor: Dr Robert Ackland, The Australian National University
Booking:    http://acspri.org.au

This course will introduce participants to approaches for conducting
empirical social science research into online networks.  The course will
involve the use of the Virtual Observatory for the Study of Online
Networks (VOSON) System - web-based software that incorporates web mining,
data visualisation, and more traditional empirical social science methods
(e.g. social network analysis, SNA).  To our knowledge, VOSON is the first
web-based e-Research tool specifically designed for social science
research into online networks.  See http://voson.anu.edu.au for more
details on the VOSON software and related research.

The course will focus on two types of online networks: hyperlink networks
formed by organisations (for example, social movement organisations and
government departments) and networks formed by individuals using social
network services (SNSs) such as Facebook.  The course will mainly consist
of hands-on sessions where participants will use the VOSON software.
However there will also be several mini lectures introducing the key
concepts and methods that underly VOSON.

For more information on the course objectives and outline, please contact
Robert Ackland.  Please note that bookings are to be made via the
Australian Consortium for Social and Political Research Incorporated
(ACSPRI) website (http://acspri.org.au).

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Dr Robert Ackland
Fellow, Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute
College of Arts and Social Sciences
The Australian National University

e-mail:       robert.ackland at anu.edu.au
homepage:     http://adsri.anu.edu.au/people/robert.php
project site: http://voson.anu.edu.au
ph./fax:      +61 2 6125 0312/+61 2 6125 2992
mail:         Coombs Building, 9
              Canberra, ACT 0200
              AUSTRALIA
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