2023年12月7日，应上海对外经贸大学语言教育与测评中心（CLEAR）邀请，华东师范大学教育信息技术学系副教授冷静博士为我院师生带来了一场主题为 “社交网络分析：NodeXL实践与应用” 的线下工作坊。本次讲座由CLEAR中心主任蔡雨阳教授主持，近三十名师生在教学楼SC305参加了此次活动。
Invited by the Centre for Language Education and Assessment Research (CLEAR) of Shanghai University of International Business and Economics (SUIBE), Dr. Leng Jing from the Department of Educational Information Technology of East China Normal University (ECNU) conducted a workshop on “Social Network Analysis: Practices and Applications of NodeXL” on 7 December 2023. Professor Yuyang Cai, the director of the CLEAR, chaired the session. Nearly 30 faculty and students attended this event in SC305.
蔡雨阳教授首先表达了对冷静博士的热烈欢迎, 继而介绍了冷静博士在计算机支持的协作学习 (CSCL)、严肃的教育游戏、教育数据挖掘、批判性思维能力等研究领域的研究背景，并指出了其在社会网络分析领域已取得的成就和研究进展。冷博士以形象的例子生动引入了社会网络分析（Social Network Analysis）定量分析方法。SNA中所说的网络是由节点（node，图论中称顶点vertex）和边（edge）构成，指的是各种关联；而社会网络即可简单地称为社会关系所构成的结构。每个节点代表一个实体，可以是个体、机构或组织；连接各节点的边则代表实体之间的一个关系。其中，节点之间的关系有多类型、多向度、多权重值的表现。社会网络的形式化表达包括图形表达和矩阵表达，图形表达是由节点和边构成的网络图谱，而矩阵表达则是对应的数学矩阵。互动环节，冷博士邀请听众通过绘制所展示的有向图对应的邻接矩阵，展示了节点之间的关系，加深了师生们对社会网络分析的基本思路和原理的理解。
Professor Cai first extended his warm welcome to Dr. Leng Jing before introducing Dr. Leng’s research achievements in Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL), Serious Educational Games, Educational Data Mining, and Critical Thinking, especially her expertise in Social Network Analysis (SNA). Dr Leng kicked off the workshop with some vivid examples. Originating from mathematical graph theory, the network in SNA is composed of nodes (vertex in graph theory) and edges, which refer to various associations. In contrast, a social network can simply be called a structure of social relations. Each node represents an entity, an individual, an institution, or an organization. The edges connecting the nodes represent a relationship between the entities. The relationships between nodes are expressed in multiple types, directions, and weight values. Formal representations of social networks include graphical representations, network diagrams consisting of nodes and edges, and matrix representations, which are the corresponding mathematical matrices. During the interactive session, Dr. Leng illustrated the relationship between the nodes by inviting participants to draw the corresponding adjacency matrices of the directed graphs presented, which enabled teachers and students to have a deeper understanding of the basic ideas and principles of SNA.
讲座第二部分，通过研究网络关系的方向、数量、强度、密度等方面，冷博士展示了几种常见的网络类型并介绍了它们的特征与功能。在网络类型方面，冷静副教授讲解了有向图、无向图、循环图、非循环图、加权图、未加权图、稀疏图和密集图等。不同的网络类型在描述社会网络时有不同的应用场景和意义。接着，冷博士介绍了社会网络分析的相关概念，包括度、介数中心性和密度等。她通过实例深入浅出地讲解了这些概念，并结合图形进行解释。在社会网络的结构基础要素方面，冷博士讲述了行动者、关系、连结和网络等要素，强调要从研究假设和问题出发来确定网络结构中的各要素，对其进行可视化，并对图形作出解释。同时，冷博士强调了社会网络分析方法依赖于图论语言和技术，并应用数学模型、统计技术和计算机模拟，向我们提供了一种量化和分析社会网络中各种指标的手段。
In the second part of the lecture, by studying the direction, number, strength, and density of network relationships, Dr. Leng demonstrated several common network types and introduced their characteristics and functions. In terms of network types, she explained directed graphs, undirected graphs, cyclic graphs, acyclic graphs, weighted graphs, unweighted graphs, sparse graphs, and dense graphs. Different network types have different application scenarios and meanings in describing social networks. Then, Dr. Leng introduced the related concepts of SNA, including degree, median centrality, and density. She explained these concepts in depth through examples and combined them with graphs. In terms of the elements underlying the structure of social networks, Dr. Leng talked about the elements of actors, relationships, links, and networks, stressing the importance of identifying the elements in the structure of the network in terms of research hypotheses and questions, visualizing them and explaining them with graphs. At the same time, Dr. Leng emphasized that social network analysis methods relied on graph theoretic languages and techniques and applied mathematical models, statistical techniques, and computer simulations to provide us with a means of quantifying and analyzing the various metrics in social networks.
讲座第三部分，对于“怎么利用社会网络分析方法来‘旧瓶装出新酒’”这一问题，冷博士通过具体的研究案例向在场的师生们展示了如何利用SNA的方法和技术来创造新的研究成果，向我们展示了更多的可能性。冷博士提到了一项研究案例，通过对异步在线讨论论坛中学生之间关系的分析，可以识别学习领导者，并深入了解他们在学习中的角色和影响力。这种分析方法可以揭示学生之间的交流模式和信息传播路径，从而更好地理解学习社区中的知识分享和合作行为。此外，冷博士还提及了利用学生问卷数据进行分析的案例。通过这种分析，可以揭示幸福感的要素如何相互作用，并了解学校因素对学生福祉的影响。在讲解案例的过程中，冷博士与在场的学生进行互动，并传授了如何对可视化图形进行解释的技巧。
In the third part of the lecture, on the question of “how to use social network analysis to ‘put new wine in old bottles’”, Dr. Leng showed the teachers and students how to use the methods and techniques of SNA to create new research results by using concrete research cases, showing us more possibilities. Dr. Leng mentioned a case study in which the analysis of relationships between students in an asynchronous online discussion forum allowed for the identification of learning leaders and provided insights into their role and influence in learning. This analytical approach can reveal communication patterns and information dissemination pathways between students, leading to a better understanding of knowledge sharing and collaborative behaviors in learning communities. In addition, Dr. Leng mentioned the case of using student questionnaire data for analysis. Through such analyses, it was possible to reveal how the elements of well-being interacted with each other and to understand the impact of school factors on students’ well-being. During the case study presentation, Dr. Leng interacted with the students and gave tips on how to interpret visual graphs.
讲座第四部分，冷博士的研究生吴子豪同学展示了社会网络分析软件NodeXL的使用。演示先介绍了NodeXL的基本界面和功能，如何导入数据集、进行数据清洗和转换、生成可视化的网络图，并对网络图的部分参数进行计算。此外，NodeXL允许用户将节点和边的视觉属性映射到它计算的度量。讲座最后是互动环节。现场师生就SNA使用的一些概念和细节性问题提出问题，冷博士分别进行了耐心和深入的解答。
During the fourth part, Dr. Leng’s graduate student Wu Zihao demonstrated the use of NodeXL for SNA software. The demonstration covered procedures including the basic interface and functions of NodeXL, datasets importing, cleaning, transforming, generating visual network diagrams, and parameter calculating. At the end of the lecture, the attendees proposed further questions regarding the concept and procedures of SNA software operation. Dr. Leng addressed each question with great care and depth.
此次SNA工作坊为我院师生提供了一种新的研究视角，以解决语言研究中的复杂问题。这场讲座激发了他们继续学习和应用相关知识与技术的兴趣。最后，蔡教授再次表达了对讲者的感谢以及未来进行合作的期待。
This SNA workshop provided teachers and students with a new lens for conducting language research. The event stimulates attendee’s enthusiasm to learn and master the skills of SNA. In the end, Prof. Cai expressed his gratitude again to the speakers and his expectation of future collaboration between the two parties.
撰稿人：王攀，左巧玲
Contributed by: WANG pan，ZUO Qiaoling