SOCIAL NETWORKS

Scope & Guideline

Bridging Disciplines to Understand Networks

Introduction

Welcome to the SOCIAL NETWORKS information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of SOCIAL NETWORKS, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN0378-8733
PublisherELSEVIER
Support Open AccessNo
CountryNetherlands
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1978 to 2025
AbbreviationSOC NETWORKS / Soc. Networks
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressRADARWEG 29, 1043 NX AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

Aims and Scopes

The journal "SOCIAL NETWORKS" focuses on the interdisciplinary study of social networks, exploring their structure, dynamics, and implications across various fields. It emphasizes empirical research, theoretical advancements, and methodological innovations within social network analysis.
  1. Social Network Dynamics:
    The journal investigates the formation, evolution, and dissolution of social networks, examining how relationships and interactions change over time.
  2. Methodological Innovations:
    A significant emphasis is placed on developing and applying new methods for analyzing social networks, including statistical models, machine learning approaches, and experimental designs.
  3. Interdisciplinary Applications:
    The journal covers a wide range of applications, from healthcare and education to political science and environmental studies, showcasing how social networks influence various societal issues.
  4. Contextual Influences on Networks:
    Research often explores how social, cultural, and economic contexts shape network structures and dynamics, providing insights into issues like social capital and inequality.
  5. Network Interventions and Policies:
    The journal publishes studies on interventions aimed at modifying social networks for positive outcomes, particularly in public health, education, and community development.
The journal has seen a shift towards several trending and emerging themes that reflect the evolving landscape of social network research. These themes indicate where the field is heading and highlight areas of increasing significance.
  1. Healthcare Networks:
    Recent publications emphasize the role of social networks in healthcare, particularly in understanding patient outcomes, health behavior, and community health interventions.
  2. Machine Learning Applications:
    The integration of machine learning techniques for predicting network dynamics and analyzing complex data sets is gaining traction, reflecting the journal's commitment to methodological advancement.
  3. Political and Environmental Networks:
    There is an emerging focus on the interplay between social networks and political movements, as well as environmental issues, showcasing how network analysis can inform policy and social change.
  4. Youth and Adolescence Studies:
    Research on youth networks, particularly concerning mental health, peer influence, and social dynamics in educational settings, is increasingly highlighted, pointing to a growing interest in this demographic.
  5. Network Ecology and Contextual Analysis:
    An emerging trend in the journal is the exploration of network ecology, which examines how social networks operate within broader ecological and contextual frameworks, enhancing understanding of relational dynamics.

Declining or Waning

While the journal has consistently explored various themes, certain areas of focus are showing signs of decline in prominence over recent years. This section highlights these waning themes and their implications.
  1. Traditional Social Capital Concepts:
    There is a noticeable decline in papers focused on traditional definitions of social capital, as the field increasingly embraces more complex and dynamic interpretations of social ties.
  2. Static Network Analysis:
    The reliance on static models for network analysis has decreased, with fewer studies focusing solely on snapshot analyses, as researchers now favor longitudinal and dynamic approaches.
  3. Homophily in Simple Terms:
    Research centered on basic homophily concepts is less prevalent, as newer studies delve into more intricate factors influencing social ties, such as contextual and situational variables.
  4. Causal Inference in Isolation:
    While causal inference remains important, there is a waning interest in analyzing causation in isolation without considering the broader network dynamics and interactions.
  5. Basic Network Metrics:
    The focus on traditional network metrics (e.g., degree centrality) appears to be declining in favor of more nuanced measures that account for network context and complexity.

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