Generating global network structures by triad types

This paper addresses the question of whether it is possible to generate networks with a given global structure (defined by selected blockmodels, i.e., cohesive, core-periphery, hierarchical and transitivity), considering only different types of triads. Two methods are used to generate networks: (i) the method of relocating links; and (ii) the Monte Carlo Multi Chain algorithm implemented in the "ergm" package implemented in R. Although all types of triads can generate networks with the selected blockmodel types, the selection of only a subset of triads improves the generated networks' blockmodel structure. However, in the case of a hierarchical blockmodel without complete blocks on the diagonal, additional local structures are needed to achieve the desired global structure of generated networks. This shows that blockmodels can emerge based on only local processes that do not take attributes into account

The stability of co-authorship structures

This article examines the structure of co-authorship networks\u27 stability in time. The goal of the article is to analyse differences in the stability and size of groups of researchers that co-author with each other (core research groups) formed in disciplines from the natural and technical sciences on one hand and the social sciences and humanities on the other. The cores were obtained by a pre-specified blockmodeling procedure assuming a multi-core-semi-periphery-periphery structure. The stability of the obtained cores was measured with the Modified Adjusted Rand Index. The assumed structure was confirmed in all analysed disciplines. The average size of the cores obtained is higher in the second time period and the average core size is greater in the natural and technical sciences than in the social sciences and humanities. There are no differences in average core stability between the natural and technical sciences and the social sciences and humanities. However, if the stability of cores is defined by the splitting of cores and not also by the percentage of researchers who left the cores, the average stability of the cores is higher in disciplines from the scientific fields of Engineering sciences and technologies and Medical sciences than in disciplines of the Humanities, if controlling for the networks\u27 and disciplines\u27 characteristics. The analysis was performed on disciplinary co-authorship networks of Slovenian researchers in two time periods (1991-2000 and 2001-2010)

Co-authorship trends and collaboration patterns in the Slovenian sociological community

The article deals with some processes generating increases in research collaboration; one of the most characteristic tendencies of modern science. The major empirical focus is the increasing tendency to co-authorship in sociological publications in Slovenia. Bibliometric analyses, based on two joint national research information systems (SICRIS and COBISS), show the amount of coauthored publications in the field of sociology have increased over the last two decades. Blockmodeling of co-authorship networks in sociology has shown that sociologists who are not systematically tied to strongly connected and wellestablished research groups produce the best scientific publications in their field

Planovi karijere i motivacija za postignućem hrvatskih i slovenskih studenata

U radu se analiziraju dvije skupine utjecaja na "planove za karijeru". Prvu skupinu utjecaja čine dvije neovisne varijable: država (Slovenija i Hrvatska) i spol (muško i žensko). Drugu skupinu utjecaja čine stavovi ispitanika o "motivaciji za postignućem", "motivaciji za moć" i "opisu željenog posla". Planovi za karijeru i motivacija za postignućem ispitivani su na uzorcima studenata i studentica iz Slovenije (n=154) i Hrvatske (n=!49). t-testom je izmjeren veći broj signifikantnih razlika u stavovima studenata različitih država, negoli u stavovima studenata različitog spola. Faktorska analiza pokazuje da varijable koje se odnose na “motivaciju za posao" tvore tri faktora za svaku od promatranih zemalja. Prva su dva faktora jednaka za obje zemlje (I. faktor "mbicioznost", II. faktor "pomaganje drugima"). Treći faktor za hrvatske ispitanike označuje probleme "egzistencije", dok za slovenske ispitanike "slobodu na poslu i izvan posla". Analizom varijance prosječne varijable skupine varijabli "motivacije za posao", države i spola, može se zaključiti da dva faktora zajedno (spol i država zajedno) pokazuju statistički signifikantan glavni faktor (F(2,299)=8.418). Također, F je signifikantan za državu (F(2,299)= 16,089), a razlike nisu signifikantne za spol i interakciju države i spola. Sve navedeno ide u prilog pretpostavci da su promjene koje su se posljednjih godina odvijale u dvjema državama utjecale i na različitosti stavova studenata glede njihova odnosa prema motivaciji za posao

Social Ecology of Evolutional Changes

In this study the starting point for the authors is the thesis that development influences spatial, sectorial and time dimensions of social organization as well as the nature of indicators which can be used in valuation of evolutional changes. The analysis has been limited to three specific socioecological contexts of social organization: 1. change in levels of territorial social organization, 2. appearance of coherent sectors and their relationship, and 3. relationship between the degree and speed of changes. Each of these dimensions has been conceived and its functioning in regard to the evolutinal changes has been explained. The authors have tried to explain the influence of development taking as the example the Slovenian communities in the period between 1963 and 1972. Although data for SR Slovenia are extensive, yet their selection on the basis of contextual and methodological criteria is problematic. Therefore, the empirical verification of the evolutional law on local (communal) level as well as on long-term basis is quite limited. Due to the inapplicability of some data the authors have been forced to limit their analysis to the following three themes: economic development, cultural development and development of communications. The development of each of these has been controlled through various selected indicators. The sector of economic development has been, for example, measured by the following indicators: social product (per capita), number of industrial enterprises in the community, agricultural population, urban population, number of licensed passanger cars, number of licensed cars for transportation of goods, number of retail shops, number of persons employed in secondary and tertiary sector. By using the method of main components the authors have classified all Slovenian communities into two groups on basis of positive and negative factor values (factor cores), and namely, into more and less developed communities. The obtained data show high correlation between migration and the degree of development of the community. The more developed communities attract relatively more people and have a smaller proportion of emigrants. This mobility showe a tendency of growth towards openess with the higher degree of development. The authors have also established that the economic sector is a more significant predictor for the speed of economic development in the less developed than in the more developed communities. Similarly, the degree of economic development is a better predictor of the speed of development of communications in the less developed than in the more developed communities. On the contrary, the changes in indicators of cultural development in the group ot the less developed communities do not depend upon the level of economic development. This leads to the conclusion that the variations in the speed of changes reflect more a definite stage in their growth than the dependence upon the level of economic development

Generalized Blockmodeling with Pajek

Abstract One goal of blockmodeling is to reduce a large, potentially incoherent network to a smaller comprehensible structure that can be interpreted more readily. Batagelj, Doreian, and Ferligoj developed a generalized approach to blockmodeling and methods where a set of observed relations are fitted to a pre-specified blockmodel. In the paper this generalized blockmodeling approach as implemented in program Pajek is described. An overview of the blockmodeling procedures in Pajek is given and is illustrated by some examples

The personal factors in scientific collaboration: views held by Slovenian researchers

Scientific collaboration (SC) has become a widespread feature of modern research work. While many social network studies address various aspects of SC, little attention has so far been given to the specific factors that motivate researchers to engage in SC at the individual level. In our article, we focus on the types and practices of SC that researchers in Slovenia engage in. We consider this topic by adopting a quantitative and qualitative methodological approach. The former was conducted through a web survey among active researchers, and the latter through in-depth interviews with a selected group of top researchers, i.e. intellectual leaders. Results show the extent of individual SC depends on the perceptions of researchers of the benefits of SC. Qualitative interviews additionally provide broader reflections on certain policy mechanisms that could better motivate Slovenian scientists to scientifically collaborate in the international arena