SOCI3102: Social networks and social capital - CUHK
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SAMPLE course outline only
Course contents will vary if taught by different teachers.
Please refer to the course teacher for the actual course content offered in each term.
Version: 02/SEP/2019
SOCI3102: Social networks and social capital
Fall 2019
Monday 4:30-6:15 PM
Instructor: Jinho Kim (PhD)
Email: jinho.kim@cuhk.edu.hk
TA: Lee Lai Han
Email: leelaihan@cuhk.edu.hk
Office hour: Upon appointment
Office: 411A
1. Course Description
Social networks affect many aspects of our lives, and their effect persists over the life course. The science
of social networks focuses on measuring, modeling, and understanding the different ways that people are
connected to one another. In this course, we will use a broad toolkit of theories and methods drawn from
the social, natural, and mathematical sciences to learn what a social network is, to understand how to
work with social network data, and to illustrate some of the ways that social networks can be useful in
theory and in practice. We will see that network ideas are powerful enough to be used everywhere from
Center for Health Protection and Department of Health, where network models help epidemiologists
prevent the spread of diseases, to private sectors (e.g., Apple, Amazon, etc.), where data scientists use
network ideas to build products that enable people all across the globe to connect with one another.
Throughout the course, you will:
• identify key network concepts and principles
• examine data collection, measurement, and computer analysis techniques
• acquire a sufficient grasp of the contemporary network literatures
• investigate applications in sociology, public health, education, political science, public
administration, organization studies, and related disciplines.
2. Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
• define social networks and identify the ways that affect health, attitudes and behaviors, and quality
of life
• describe several important studies and controversies in the social network literature
• critically examine the theory, methodology, and findings of research that incorporates social
network analysis
• evaluate the implications of the social network research
3. Course Materials
(1) Required textbook
• Christakis and Fowler (2009). Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How
They Shape Our Lives. New York: Little, Brown and Company.Version: 02/SEP/2019
(2) Recommended reading
• (*) Easley and Kleinberg (2010). Networks, crowds, and markets: Reasoning about a highly
connected world. New York: Cambridge University Press.
https://www.cs.cornell.edu/home/kleinber/networks-book/
• (^) Valente (2010). Social Networks and Health: Models, Methods, and Applications. New York:
Oxford University Press.
• (^) Borgatti et al. (2013). Analyzing Social Networks. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
• (^) Knoke and Yang (2008). Social Network Analysis: Second Edition. Thousand Oaks: Sage
Publications.
• (*) Kadushin (2012). Understanding Social Networks: Theories, Concepts and Findings. New
York: Oxford University Press.
• (+) Wasserman and Faust (1994). Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications. New
York: Cambridge University Press.
Note: + Difficult; * Intermediate; ^ Easy
4. Course Requirements
(1) Overview of requirements
30% Tutorial session and research project
30% Response memo (10% X 3)
40% Final exam
(2) Details about requirements
Tutorial session and research project (30%)
• During these tutorials, you are expected to develop and complete a research project on a topic
related to social networks, peer effects, and social capital. Several potential topics will be provided
for you to select, but you can of course choose to work on a different topic beyond these.
• This project is group-based and 2-3 students will form a group. It is also OK to work on your own.
The evaluation criteria will be the same no matter it is a group work or an individual work.
• The grading is based on your participation in the tutorial (5%), presentation (10%), and final paper
(15%).
• Final paper should be structured: (1) Abstract (250 words max); (2) Motivation and Significance;
(3) Objectives; (4) Findings; (5) Conclusion and Discussion; (6) References
• There will be three tutorial sessions. The sessions will be led by TA.
o Tutorial 1: Orientation
o Tutorial 2: Middle-stage progress report
o Tutorial 3: Presentation
• You will be expected to submit your final research paper by November 25, 2019. The paper
should not exceed 10 pages excluding tables and figures.
Response memo (30%)
• For three of the class meetings, please write a 2 page short response memo. You can pick which
weeks you write the memos. You can also choose which paper you want to write a memo about,
from the list of papers that are indicated with the sign of (#) in “(2) Detailed schedule of classes”
below.
• The format of the memos is open, but at a minimum I would like you to be sure to:Version: 02/SEP/2019
o a. summarize the reading (focus more on substantive than methodological components of
the paper)
o b. write a short note of your thoughts and comments (what you like and you don’t like)
Final exam (40%)
• There will be one in-class closed book examination. The final exam will be held on November
25, 2019 during normal class time in our normal classroom.
• The final exam will test the material covered during the entire semester. It will contain both
multiple choice and short-essay questions.
(3) Grade Descriptors
A Outstanding performance on all learning outcomes.
A- Generally outstanding performance on all (or almost all) learning outcomes.
B Substantial performance on all learning outcomes, OR high performance on some learning
outcomes which compensates for less satisfactory performance on others, resulting in overall
substantial performance.
C Satisfactory performance on the majority of learning outcomes, possibly with a few weaknesses.
D Barely satisfactory performance on a number of learning outcomes.
F Unsatisfactory performance on a number of learning outcomes, OR failure to meet specified
assessment requirements.
5. Submission of Work
• For all assignments students are required to submit both a hard copy and VeriGuide verification
receipt. Points will be subtracted for late submission.
• I expect you to follow the standard writing procedures on all of your assignments:
o a. use normal margins (1 inch margins on the top, bottom, and sides) on the sides
o b. use 12-point Times New Roman font and double space your lines
• All questions about assignments and grading should first be directed toward your TA.
6. Academic Integrity
As with all courses at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, you are expected to follow the University’s
rules and regulations pertaining to academic honesty and integrity. Please visit here for more information.
If you have questions about the rules for any of the assignments or exams, please ask me or your TA.Version: 02/SEP/2019
7. Schedule of Classes
(1) Summary of schedule
Week Date Chapter Readings
1 9/2 Course overview and introduction
2 9/9 Fundamentals and background Ch. 1
3 9/16 Network rules in real life Ch. 1
4 9/23 Emotion, love, and sex Ch. 2, 3
5 9/30 Contagion and context (I) Ch. 2, 3
6 10/7 (Holiday) No lecture
7 10/14 Contagion and context (II) Ch. 2, 3
8 10/21 Spread of disease and health behaviors (I) Ch. 4
9 10/28 Spread of disease and health behaviors (II) Ch. 4
10 11/4 Economic networks Ch. 5
11 11/11 Genes, networks, and society Ch. 7
12 11/18 Social network interventions Ch. 9
13 11/25 Final exam
Note: The due date for three response memo assignments follow an individual’s own schedule.
4Version: 02/SEP/2019
(2) Detailed schedule of classes
Week 1 (Sep 2) Course overview and introduction
Recommended reading
• Easley and Kleinberg (2010), Chapter 1. Overview: Crowds, and Markets: Reasoning about a
Highly Connected World. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Week 2 (Sep 9) Fundamentals and background
Required reading
• Connected, Chapter 1
Recommended reading
• Easley and Kleinberg (2010), Chapter 2. Graphs: Crowds, and Markets: Reasoning about a Highly
Connected World. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Week 3 (Sep 16) Network rules in real life
Required reading
• Connected, Chapter 1
• (#) Travers and Milgram (1969). An Experimental Study of the Small World Problem.
Sociometry.
Recommended reading
• Milgram et al. (1969). Note on the drawing power of crowds of different size. Journal of
Personality and Social Psychology.
• (#) Dodds et al. (2003), An Experimental Study of Search in Global Social Networks. Science.
• (#) McPherson et al. (2006). Social Isolation in America: Changes in Core Discussion Networks
over Two Decades. American Sociological Review.
• Milgram (1967). The small world problem. Psychology Today.
• Strogatz, S. (2012). Friends you can count on. New York Times.
• Small (2013). Weak ties and the core discussion network: Why people discuss important matters
with unimportant alters. Social Networks.
• Fischer (2009). The 2004 GSS Finding of Shrunken Social Networks: An Artifact? American
Sociological Review.
Week 4 (Sep 23) Emotion, love, and sex
Required reading
• Connected, Chapters 2 and 3
• (#) Flower and Christakis (2008), Dynamic Spread of Happiness in a Large Social Network, BMJ.
• (#) Jin et al. (2010). Preliminary Evidence Regarding the Hypothesis That the Sex Ratio at Sexual
Maturity May Affect Longevity in Men. Demography.
Recommended reading
• Larson and Richards (1994), Family Emotions: Do Young Adolescents and Their Parents
Experience the Same States?, Journal of Research on Adolescence.
5Version: 02/SEP/2019
• (#) Cacioppo et al. (2009). Alone in the crowd: The structure and spread of loneliness in a large
social network. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
• Jones et al. (2007). Social Transmission of Face Preferences Among Humans. Proceedings of the
Royal Society B.
• (#) Bearman and Brückner. (2001). Promising the Future: Virginity Pledges and First Intercourse.
American Journal of Sociology.
• Young et al. (1963). The Mortality of Widowers. The Lancet.
• (#) Elwert and Christakis. (2006). Widowhood and Race. American Sociological Review.
• Elwert and Christakis (2008), The Effect of Widowhood on Mortality by the Causes of Death of
Both Spouses, American Journal of Public Health.
Week 5 (Sep 30) Contagion and context (I)
Required reading
• Connected, Chapters 2 and 3
Week 6 (Oct 7) NO LECTURE
Week 7 (Oct 14) Contagion and context (II)
Required reading
• Connected, Chapters 2 and 3
• (#) Morris and Kretzschmar (1997). Concurrent partnership and the spread of HIV. AIDS.
Recommended reading
• McPherson et al. (2001). Birds of a Feather: Homophily in Social Networks. Annual Review of
Sociology.
• Mayer and Puller. (2008). The old boy (and girl) network: Social network formation on university
campuses. Journal of Public Economics.
• Ugander et al. (2012). Structural diversity in social contagion. Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences.
Week 8 (Oct 21) Spread of disease and health behaviors (I)
Required reading
• Connected, Chapter 4
• (#) Bearman et al. (2004). Chains of Affection: The Structure of Adolescent Romantic and Sexual
Networks. American Journal of Sociology.
• (#) Christakis and Fowler (2007). The spread of obesity in a large social network over 32 years.
New England Journal of Medicine.
Recommended reading
• (#) Helleringer and Kohler (2007). Sexual network structure and the spread of HIV in Africa:
evidence from Likoma Island, Malawi. AIDS.
• (#) Centola, D. (2010). The Spread of Behavior in an Online Social Network Experiment. Science.
• Laumann and Youm (1999). Racial/Ethnic Group Differences in the Prevalence of Sexually
Transmitted Diseases in the United States: A Network Explanation. Sexually Transmitted
Diseases.
6Version: 02/SEP/2019
Week 9 (Oct 28) Spread of disease and health behaviors (II)
Required reading
• Connected, Chapter 4
• (#) Christakis and Fowler (2008). The Collective Dynamics of Smoking in a Large Social
Network. New England Journal of Medicine.
• (#) Abrutyn and Mueller (2014). Are Suicidal Behaviors Contagious in Adolescence? Using
Longitudinal Data to Examine Suicide Suggestion. American Sociological Review.
Recommended reading
• Raspe et al. (2008). Back pain, a communicable disease? International Journal of Epidemiology.
• Phillips (1974). The Influence of Suggestion on Suicide: Substantive and Theoretical Implications
of the Werther Effect. American Sociological Review.
• (#) Bearman and Moody (2004). Suicide and Friendships Among American Adolescents.
American Journal of Public Health.
• Cohen-Cole and Fletcher (2008). Is obesity contagious? Social networks vs. environmental factors
in the obesity epidemic. Journal of Health Economics.
• (#) Cohen-Cole and Fletcher (2008). Detecting implausible social network effects in acne, height,
and headaches: longitudinal analysis. BMJ.
Week 10 (Nov 4) Economic networks
Required reading
• Connected, Chapter 5
• (#) Granovetter (1973), The Strength of Weak Ties, American Journal of Sociology.
• (#) Banerjee et al. (2013). The Diffusion of Microfinance. Science.
Recommended reading
• Onnela et al. (2007). Structure and tie strengths in mobile communication networks. Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences.
• Banerjee et al. (2018). Changes in social network structure in response to exposure to formal
credit markets. Working Paper.
• (#) Stadtfeld et al. (2019). Integration in emerging social networks explains academic failure and
success. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
• (#) Lu et al. (2015). Peer Effects in Microenvironments: The Benefits of Homogeneous Classroom
Groups. Journal of Labor Economics.
Week 11 (Nov 11) Genes, networks, and society
Required reading
• Connected, Chapter 7
• (#) Fowler et al. (2011). Correlated genotypes in friendship networks. Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences.
• (#) Boardman et al. (2012). How social and genetic factors predict friendship networks.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Recommended reading
7Version: 02/SEP/2019
• Fowler et al. (2009). Model of genetic variation in human social networks. Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences.
• (#) Domingue et al. (2018). The social genome of friends and schoolmates in the National
Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences.
• (#) Belsky et al. (2018). Genetic analysis of social-class mobility in five longitudinal studies.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Week 12 (Nov 18) Social network interventions
Required reading
• Connected, Chapter 9
• (#) Christakis and Fowler (2010). Social Network Sensors for Early Detection of Contagious
Outbreaks. PLoS ONE.
• Kim et al. (2015). Social network targeting to maximise population behaviour change: a cluster
randomised controlled trial. The Lancet.
• (#) Bond et al. (2012). A 61-million-person experiment in social influence and political
mobilization. Nature.
Recommend reading
• Wing and Jeffery (1999). Benefits of recruiting participants with friends and increasing social
support for weight loss and maintenance. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.
• Shattuck et al. (1992). How women’s adopted low-fat diets affect their husbands. American
Journal of Public Health.
• Gorin et al. (2008). Weight loss treatment influences untreated spouses and the home
environment: evidence of a ripple effect. International Journal of Obesity.
• Buller et al. (1999). Randomized trial testing the effect of peer education at increasing fruit and
vegetable intake. Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
• Sikkema et al. (2000). Outcomes of a randomized community-level HIV prevention intervention
for women living in 18 low-income housing developments. American Journal of Public Health.
• Bahr et al. (2009). Exploiting Social Networks to Mitigate the Obesity Epidemic. Obesity.
• (#) Paluck et al. (2016). Changing climates of conflict: A social network experiment in 56 schools.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Week 13 (Nov 25) Final exams
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