Skip to main content

Scalability and the Social Dynamics of Communication. On Comparing Social Network Analysis and Communication-Oriented Modelling as Models of Communication Networks

  • Chapter
Book cover Socionics

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 3413))

Abstract

Internet communication is a major challenge for anyone claiming to design scalable multiagent systems. Millions of messages are passed every day, referring to one another and thus shaping a gigantic network of communication. In this paper, we compare and discuss two different approaches to modelling and analysing such large-scale networks of communication: Social Network Analysis (SNA) and Communication-Oriented Modelling (COM). We demonstrate that, with regard to scalability, COM offers striking advantages over SNA. Based on this comparison, we identify mechanisms that foster scalability in a broader sense, comprising issues of downscaling as well.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Malsch, T., Schlieder, C.: Communication without Agents? From Agent-Oriented to Communication-Oriented Modeling. In: Lindemann, G., Moldt, D., Paolucci, M. (eds.) RASTA 2002. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2934, pp. 113–133. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  2. Hewitt, C.: Open Information Systems Semantics for Distributed Artificial Intelligence. Artificial Intelligence 47, 79–106 (1991)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  3. Morgan, M., Morrison, M.E.: Models as Mediators. Perspectives on Natural and Social Science. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1999)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  4. Malsch, T.: Naming the Unnamable: Socionics or the Sociological Turn of/to Distributed Artificial Intelligence. Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems 4, 155–186 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Dignum, F., Greaves, M.: Issues in Agent Communication: An Introduction. In: Dignum, F.P.M., Greaves, M. (eds.) Issues in Agent Communication. LNCS, vol. 1916, pp. 1–16. Springer, Heidelberg (2000)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  6. Emirbayer, M., Goodwin, J.: Network Analysis, Culture, and the Problem of Agency. Am. Journal of Sociology 99, 1411–1454 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Wasserman, S., Faust, K.: Social Network Analysis. Methods and Applications. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Jansen, D.: Einführung in die Netzwerkanalyse. Grundlagen, Methoden, Anwendungen. Leske und Budrich, Opladen (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Padgett, J., Ansell, C.: Robust Action and the Rise of the Medici, 1400-1434. Am. Journal of Sociology 98, 1259–1319 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Barnett, G.A.: A Longitudinal Analysis of the International Telecommunication Network 1978-1996. Am. Behavioral Scientist 44, 1638–1655 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Yair, G.: Unite Unite Europe. The Political and Cultural Structures of Europe as Reflected in the Eurovision Song Contest. Social Networks 17, 147–161 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Freeman, L.: The Impact of Computer Based Communication on the Social Structure of an Emerging Scientific Specialty. Social Networks 6, 201–221 (1984)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Albrecht, S., Lübcke, M.: Communicational Patterns as Basis of Organizational Structures. In: Lindemann, G., Moldt, D., Paolucci, M. (eds.) RASTA 2002. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 2934, pp. 16–30. Springer, Heidelberg (2004)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  14. Batagelj, V., Mrvar, A.: Pajek Program for Large Network Analysis. Connections 21, 47–57 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Broder, A., Kumar, R., Maghoul1, F., Raghavan, P., Rajagopalan, S., Stata, R., Tomkins, A., Wiener, J.: Graph structure in the web. In: Proc. of the 9th Int. WorldWideWeb Conference, Amsterdam, pp. 309–320 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Luhmann, N.: Social Systems. Stanford University Press, Stanford (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Stichweh, R.: System Theory as an Alternative to Action Theory? The Rise of ‘Communication’ as a Theoretical Option. Acta Sociologica 43, 5–13 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Mead, G.: Mind, Self and Society from the Standpoint of a Social Behaviorist. University of Chicago Press, Chicago (1934) (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Finkelstein, A., Kramer, J.: Software Engineering: A Roadmap. In: Finkelstein, A. (ed.) The Future of Software Engineering. In: Proc. of the Conference on the Future of Software Engineering, Limerick, Ireland, New York, pp. 3–22. ACM Press, New York (2000)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  20. Brazier, F., van Steen, M., Wijngaards, N.: On MAS Scalability. In: Wagner, T., Rana, O. (eds.) Proc. of the 2nd Int. Workshop on Infrastructure for Agents, MAS, and Scalable MAS, Montreal, Canada, pp. 121–126. AAAI, Menlo Park (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Hewitt, C.: Towards Open Information Systems Semantics. In: Proc. of the 10th International Workshop on Distributed Artificial Intelligence. MCC Technical Report No. ACT-AI-355-90, Bandera, Texas, USA (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Rana, O.F., Wagner, T., Greenberg, S.M., Purvis, M.K.: Infrastructure Issues and Themes for Scalable Multi-Agent Systems. In: Wagner, T.A., Rana, O.F. (eds.) AA-WS 2000. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 1887, pp. 304–308. Springer, Heidelberg (2001)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  23. Turner, P., Jennings, N.: Improving the Scalability of Multiagent Systems. In: Wagner, T.A., Rana, O.F. (eds.) AA-WS 2000. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 1887, pp. 246–262. Springer, Heidelberg (2001)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  24. Wilde, P.d., Nwana, H., Lee, L.: Stability, Fairness and Scalability of Multi-Agent Systems. Int. Journal of Knowledge-Based Intelligent Engineering Systems 3, 84–91 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Nonnecke, B., Preece, J.: Lurker Demographics: Counting the Silent. In: Proceedings of CHI 2000, pp. 73–80. ACM, The Hague (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Stegbauer, C., Rausch, A.: Die schweigende Mehrheit - “Lurker” in internetbasierten Diskussionsforen. Zeitschrift für Soziologie 30, 48–64 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Smith, M.: Invisible Crowds in Cyberspace: Measuring and Mapping the Social Structure of USENET. In: Smith, M., Kollock, P. (eds.) Communities in Cyberspace, pp. 195–219. Routledge, London (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Chiesi, A.: Network Analysis. In: Smelser, N., Baltes, P. (eds.) International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences, pp. 10501–10504. Elsevier, Amsterdam (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Hewitt, C.: Viewing Control Structures as Patterns of Passing Messages. Artificial Intelligence 8, 323–364 (1977)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Laitinen, M., Fayad, M., Ward, R.: The Problem with Scalability. Comm. of the ACM 43, 105–107 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Leake, D. (ed.): Case-Based Reasoning. Experiences, Lessons & Future Directions. AAAI Press, Menlo Park (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Esposito, E.: Soziales Vergessen. Formen und Medien des Gedächtnisses der Gesellschaft. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt/M (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Granovetter, M.: The Theory-Gap in Social Network Analysis. In: Holland, P., Leinhardt, S. (eds.) Perspectives on Social Network Research, pp. 501–518. Academic Press, New York (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Cook, K., Whitmeyer, J.: Two Approaches to Structure: Exchange Theory and Network Analysis. Ann. Rev. of Sociology 18, 109–127 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Frank, K., Yasumoto, J.: Embedding Subgroups in the Sociogram: Linking Theory and Image. Connections 19, 43–57 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Frank, K., Yasumoto, J.: Linking Action to Social Structure within a System: Social Capital within and between Subgroups. Am. Journal of Sociology 104, 642–686 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Snijders, T., Baerveldt, C.: A Multilevel Network Study of the Effects of Delinquent Behavior on Friendship Evolution. Journal of Mathematical Sociology 27, 123–151 (2003)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  38. Rice, R.: Network Analysis and Computer-Mediated Communication Systems. In: Wasserman, S., Galaskiewicz, J. (eds.) Advances in Social Network Analysis. Research in the Social and Behavioral Sciences, pp. 167–203. Sage, Thousand Oaks (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Danowsky, J.: Computer-Mediated Communication. A Network Based Content Analysis Using a CBBS Conference. Communication Yearbook 6, 905–924 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Jeong, A.: The Sequential Analysis of Group Interaction and Critical Thinking in Online Threaded Discussions. Am. Journal of Distance Education 17, 25–43 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Cronin, B., Atkins, H.B.: TheWeb of Knowledge. A Festschrift in Honor of Eugene Garfield. Information Today, Medford, NJ (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  42. Vedres, B., Csigó, P.: The Discourse of Consolidation: Network Analysis of Four Months of Economic Policy Discourse. Paper presented at the Sunbelt XVIII and Fifth European International Social Networks Conference, May 28–31, Sitges, Spain, pp. 73–80 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  43. Watts, D.: Six Degrees: The Science of a Connected Age. W.W. Norton & Company, New York (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Snijders, T., van Duijn, M.: Simulation for Statistical Inference in Dynamic NetworkModels. In: Conte, R., Hegselmann, R., Terna, P. (eds.) Simulating Social Phenomena, pp. 493–512. Springer, Heidelberg (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Zeggelink, E., Stokman, F., van de Bunt, G.: The Emergence of Groups in the Evolution of Friendship Networks. In: Doreian, P., Stokman, F.N. (eds.) Evolution of Social Networks, pp. 45–71. Gordon and Breach, Amsterdam (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  46. Stokman, F.N., Doreian, P.: Evolution of Social Networks: Processes and Principles. In: Doreian, P., Stokman, F.N. (eds.) Evolution of Social Networks, pp. 233–250. Gordon and Breach, Amsterdam (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  47. Macy, M., Willer, R.: From Factors to Actors. Computational Sociology and Agent-Based Modeling. Ann. Revue of Sociology 28, 143–166 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2005 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Albrecht, S., Lübcke, M., Malsch, T., Schlieder, C. (2005). Scalability and the Social Dynamics of Communication. On Comparing Social Network Analysis and Communication-Oriented Modelling as Models of Communication Networks. In: Fischer, K., Florian, M., Malsch, T. (eds) Socionics. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 3413. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/11594116_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/11594116_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-30707-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-31613-8

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics