Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

A network is a broad concept whose definition is generally a function of its disciplinary context. The interest in contemporary networks research and theory has had broad interdisciplinary appeal. Network theory and research has been conducted in sociology, communications, psychology, economics, biology and medicine, and organizational behavior. It has been applied to a broad range of natural and synthetic systems such as sociopolitical systems, neural networks, disease epidemiology, terrorism and anti-terrorism, and transport. More recently, the term “network” has been popularized and most associated with information technology and the Internet and taken to mean the connection of people and organizations through computer-mediated communications technologies aimed at enabling and facilitating efficient and effective communications and transactions between them. Generally, however, the conception of networks is not far removed from its sociological roots, and a search through most sociological works will show that a network has a number of defining features. First, a network requires a group or system of individual people and/or agencies. Second, a network requires these groups or systems to be interconnected in some way. Third, the network must share common goals, interests, or values. Finally, there is an assumption that the individual and/or agencies maintain at least some level ... log in or subscribe to read full text