Keywords
research
SNA
social network analysis
social relations
How to Cite
Abstract
The aim of this article is to present the possibilities offered by Social Network Analysis (SNA) in educational psychology research. The first part discusses the general principles of the network approach, with a particular focus on social networks. This is followed by a presentation of selected features of network data and a review of the most important analytical techniques, both descriptive and inferential, offered by network analysis. The final section gives examples of the use of SNA in educational psychology research published in the last few years. The discussion in the article concludes with the thesis that the contribution of SNA to the analysis of variables in the field of educational psychology seems particularly interesting. This alternative way of understanding and analysing data from the field of educational psychology, opens up new possibilities for exploring issues, as it allows a slightly different way of modelling and analysing relationships between variables, designing new strategies for psycho-educational interventions or better explaining the aetiology of certain phenomena. SNA can therefore respond to the needs of both psychologists academically involved in education as well as psychologists-practitioners.
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