Handbook of Social and Communication Networks
Will be published approx. on 16. June 2026
Book
Hardback
266 pages
978-1-0353-2503-0 (ISBN)
Description
This comprehensive Handbook explores the application of social network analysis and network science in the field of communication studies. Leading experts examine the interactions between social and communication networks, with a particular emphasis on network media effects.
Contributing authors highlight the growing gap between research on traditional media effects, which frequently relies on limited survey data, and the realities of digital information dissemination through platforms and algorithms. Drawing on both conceptual and methodological frameworks, the book provides crucial insights into how non-human actors and platform affordances impact communication and information flow. Chapters define essential theoretical concepts while outlining practical approaches, guidelines and future research directions. They discuss news consumption, hybrid media systems, social capital, computational methods, algorithmic curation systems and the visualization of network topologies.
The Handbook of Social and Communication Networks consolidates the disciplinary boundaries of social and communication network research, making it a valuable resource for scholars and students of communication, media, sociology, computer science and information studies.
Contributing authors highlight the growing gap between research on traditional media effects, which frequently relies on limited survey data, and the realities of digital information dissemination through platforms and algorithms. Drawing on both conceptual and methodological frameworks, the book provides crucial insights into how non-human actors and platform affordances impact communication and information flow. Chapters define essential theoretical concepts while outlining practical approaches, guidelines and future research directions. They discuss news consumption, hybrid media systems, social capital, computational methods, algorithmic curation systems and the visualization of network topologies.
The Handbook of Social and Communication Networks consolidates the disciplinary boundaries of social and communication network research, making it a valuable resource for scholars and students of communication, media, sociology, computer science and information studies.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 244 mm
Width: 169 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-0353-2503-0 (9781035325030)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Edited by Marco Bastos, Ad Astra Fellow, School of Information and Communication Studies, University College Dublin, Ireland and Senior Lecturer, Department of Media, Culture and Creative Industries, City St George's, University of London, UK and Luca Rossi, Associate Professor, Data Science Section, IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Content
Contents
List of contributors vii
1 Introduction to the Handbook of Social and Communication Networks 1
Marco Bastos and Luca Rossi
2 Network media effects 8
Marco Bastos
PART I? THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS
SECTION A PUBLIC OPINION
3 Networked news publics: how platform actions can affect collective
gatewatching and news-sharing practices 21
Axel Bruns
4 News consumption: methodological innovation in the study of online news
use 33
Cornelius Puschmann and Patrick Zerrer
5 Hybrid media systems 43
Laura Iannelli
6 Networks in context: positive propaganda and the case of farmers' protests
in India 55
Anand Badola and Ehsan Dehghan
SECTION B POLARIZATION
7 Online incivility: uncivil discourse on social media and its effects 74
Martina Novotna and Patricia Rossini
8 Using social network analysis to study asymmetric polarisation on
Facebook 86
Felipe Bonow Soares
9 Filter bubbles: a critical review of definitions, methodological approaches,
and empirical findings in the literature 98
Jonas Kaiser
10 Social capital 112
Raquel Recuero
PART II? METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORKS
SECTION C PLATFORMS
11 Semantic network analysis of web infrastructure 124
Andrew Iliadis
12 AI and communication networks 137
Jan Elfes
13 Issue networks 148
Annie Waldherr, Petro Tolochko, and Nicola Righetti
14 Amplifying extremes: the interplay of social media and traditional media
in shaping political polarization 163
Fabio Giglietto
SECTION D NETWORKS
15 Transnational networks: a case study of climate activism and counteractivism on Facebook 177
Luca Rossi and Nicola Righetti
16 Network science for social communication studies 191
Diletta Goglia, Davide Vega, and Matteo Magnani
17 Computational methods: tools and techniques for studying communication
networks 215
Nicola Righetti
18 Visualization and network topologies: intersubjective reading of network
maps 234
Mathieu Jacomy
List of contributors vii
1 Introduction to the Handbook of Social and Communication Networks 1
Marco Bastos and Luca Rossi
2 Network media effects 8
Marco Bastos
PART I? THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS
SECTION A PUBLIC OPINION
3 Networked news publics: how platform actions can affect collective
gatewatching and news-sharing practices 21
Axel Bruns
4 News consumption: methodological innovation in the study of online news
use 33
Cornelius Puschmann and Patrick Zerrer
5 Hybrid media systems 43
Laura Iannelli
6 Networks in context: positive propaganda and the case of farmers' protests
in India 55
Anand Badola and Ehsan Dehghan
SECTION B POLARIZATION
7 Online incivility: uncivil discourse on social media and its effects 74
Martina Novotna and Patricia Rossini
8 Using social network analysis to study asymmetric polarisation on
Facebook 86
Felipe Bonow Soares
9 Filter bubbles: a critical review of definitions, methodological approaches,
and empirical findings in the literature 98
Jonas Kaiser
10 Social capital 112
Raquel Recuero
PART II? METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORKS
SECTION C PLATFORMS
11 Semantic network analysis of web infrastructure 124
Andrew Iliadis
12 AI and communication networks 137
Jan Elfes
13 Issue networks 148
Annie Waldherr, Petro Tolochko, and Nicola Righetti
14 Amplifying extremes: the interplay of social media and traditional media
in shaping political polarization 163
Fabio Giglietto
SECTION D NETWORKS
15 Transnational networks: a case study of climate activism and counteractivism on Facebook 177
Luca Rossi and Nicola Righetti
16 Network science for social communication studies 191
Diletta Goglia, Davide Vega, and Matteo Magnani
17 Computational methods: tools and techniques for studying communication
networks 215
Nicola Righetti
18 Visualization and network topologies: intersubjective reading of network
maps 234
Mathieu Jacomy