Utilizing social network analysis in social sciences in sport

Abstract

Abstract In recent years, a constantly increasing trend towards attempts at exploring relational attributes through social network analysis has been observed, shifting away from conventional individualistic attributes. A big advantage of social network analysis lies in the visualization of subjects’ interactions and relational patterns and the resulting emergence phenomenon. The current study introduces essential concepts and theories of social network analysis in an aim to illuminate how it might be used to investigate individual and group behaviours in the field of sport social science research. Social network analysis has not yet been popularized in social science in sport research in comparison with its relatively wide adoption in other social sciences. In social science in sport, social network analysis can be used in various research areas such as social networks and knowledge networks, and it can lead exploration of previously unexplored research areas.