The Evolution and Application of Network Analysis Methods

Social network is a reflection of a social structure, composed of actors and one or several kinds of their mutual ties. Social Network Analysis (SNA), matured in 1970s, is a piece of art and technology quantitatively analyzing social relations. Dynamic Network Analysis (DNA), proposed in 2002, integrates Social Network Analysis, Link Prediction, Multi-Agent Simulation methods and technology, and its core is the information collection, data processing and relationship forecasts and so on. Super network, proposed in the same year, refers to the above and beyond existing network, which has characteristics as multi-layer, multi-level, multi-dimensional, multi-attribute, congestion, and coordination. We have the techniques, tools and indicators of the three network analysis methods collated and summarized, and applied in opinion leader identification. The results proved that to identify and judge opinion leaders, especially the negative ones, with social network analysis, dynamic network analysis and super network analysis played a certain role in controlling network development, from the network behavior.