University of L'Aquila
Department of Information Engineering Computer Science and Mathematics
Academic Year 2016/2017
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Autonomous Networks: Social Networks (3 CREDITS).
Link to the Computer Science Degree official website (click here).
The course Autonomous Networks (6 CFU) is divided into: Non Cooperative Networks (3 CFU. By Prof. Proietti) and Social Networks (3 CFU).
The lectures of Social Networks course will start (approximately) at the end of October 2016.
Description:
The course investigates how the social, technological, and natural worlds are connected,
and how the study of graphs and networks sheds light on these connections.
Particular topics include: how opinions, fads, and political movements spread through society, the theory behind strong and weak ties in relationships,
and the small-world phenomenon. Students will learn to use models and theory to explain and exploit the structure of information and social networks.
Additional topics will be covered as time permits.
The (tentative) schedule of the course is the following (with respect to the chapters of the textbook):
Ch. 1 of the textbook: overview;
Ch. 2 of the textbook: Graphs;
Ch. 3 of the textbook: Strong and Weak Ties;
Ch. 4 of the textbook: Networks in their Surrounding Contexts;
Ch. 5 of the textbook: Positive and Negative Relationships;
Part of Ch. 12 of the textbook: Bargaining and Power in Networks;
Ch. 18 of the textbook: Power Laws and Rich-Get-Richer Phenomena;
Ch. 19 of the textbook: Cascading Behavior in Networks;
Ch. 20 of the textbook: The Small-World Phenomenon.
Timetable:
First semester (November 16, 2016 - December 22, 2016), Wednesday: 8.30–10.30 (room A 1.5) and Thursday: 11.30–13.30 (room C1.16)
Students’ reception:
Given that I could be out of the office due to academic or research commitments,
students are invited to arrange the day and time of the meeting by e-mail and therefore to send an e-mail preventively.
Textbook:
David Easley, Jon Kleinberg: “Networks Crowds and Market: Reasoning about a highly Connected World”. Cambridge Press, 2010.
Course Material:
A free (complete pre-publication) version of the textbook can be downloaded at this link.
Course Program:
November 16, 2016: Presentation of the course. Slides (Click here)
Chapter 2 of the textbook: Graphs. Whole chapter.
November 17, 2016: Chapter 3 of the textbook: Strong and Weak Ties. 3.1 Triadic Closure; 3.2 The Strength of Weak Ties; 3.3 Tie Strength and Network Structure in Large-Scale
Data; 3.4 Tie Strength, Social Media, and Passive Engagement.
November 23, 2016: Chapter 3 of the textbook: 3.5 Closure, Structural Holes, and Social Capital; 3.6 Advanced Material: Betweenness Measures and
Graph Partitioning.
November 24, 2016: Chapter 4 of the textbook: Networks in Their Surrounding. 4.1 Homophily; 4.2 Mechanisms Underlying Homophily: Selection and
Social Influence; 4.3 Affiliation; 4.5 A Spatial Model of Segregation.
November 30, 2016: Chapter 5 of the textbook: Positive and Negative Relationships. 5.1 Structural Balance; 5.2 Characterizing the Structure of Balanced Networks;
5.3 Applications of Structural Balance; 5.4 A Weaker Form of Structural Balance; 5.5 Advanced Material: Generalizing the Definition of Structural Balance:
Part A. Structural Balance in Arbitrary (Non-Complete) Networks.
December 1, 2016: Chapter 12 of the textbook: Bargaining and Power in Networks. 12.1 Power in Social Networks; 12.2 Experimental Studies of Power and Exchange;
12.3 Results of Network Exchange Experiments; 12.5 Modeling Two-Person Interaction: The Nash Bargaining Solution; 12.6 Modeling Two-Person Interaction: The Ultimatum Game;
12.7 Modeling Network Exchange: Stable Outcomes.
December 7, 2016 (4 hours): Chapter 12 of the textbook: 12.8 Modeling Network Exchange: Balanced Outcomes.
Exercises of chapters 2,3,4,5: Exercises solutions have been proposed on the blackboard.
December 14, 2016: Chapter 19 of the textbook: Cascading Behavior in Networks. 19.1 Diffusion in Networks; 19.2 Modeling Diffusion through a Network;
19.3 Cascades and Clusters (first part).
December 15, 2016: Chapter 19 of the textbook: Cascading Behavior in Networks. 19.3 Cascades and Clusters (second and last part part); 19.4 Diffusion, Thresholds,
and the Role of Weak Ties; 19.5 Extensions of the Basic Cascade Model: Heterogeneous Thresholds; 19.6 Knowledge, Thresholds, and Collective Action;
19.7 Advanced Material: The Cascade Capacity (first part).
December 21, 2016: Chapter 19 of the textbook: 19.7 Advanced Material: The Cascade Capacity A:Cascades on Infinite Networks; B:How Large Can the Cascade Capacity Be? (last part).
Exercises of chapters 19: Exercises solutions have been proposed on the blackboard.
December 22, 2016: Chapter 20 of the textbook: The Small-World Phenomenon. 20.1 Six Degrees of Separation; 20.2 Structure and Randomness.
News:
December 1, 2016: Wednesday December 7, besides the lecture from 8.30 to 10.30 in room A1.5, there will be an extra lecture from 11.30 to 13.30 in room A1.2, Coppito 0.
December 14, 2016: Final exams semester (for both students having "Social Networks" (3 CFU) and students
having "Autonomous Networks" (6 CFU) in their personal study plan) #1 A.Y. 2016/2017: (Period January 9, 2017 - February 24, 2017)
1° Thursday January 12, 2017. Time: 11.00 a.m.
2° Thursday January 26, 2017. Time: 11.00 a.m.
3° Thursday February 9, 2017. Time: 11.00 a.m.
For students having "Autonomous Networks" (6 CFU) in their personal study plan: they have to sustain the exam relative to the part of "Non Cooperative Networks" (3 CFU) with Prof. Proietti.
January 13, 2017: Available the results of the examination of January 12, 2017.
(Click here). Exams recording and oral exams: Tuesday January 17, Time: 11:00 a.m.
January 19, 2017: Click here to download the assignment of the examination of January 12, 2017.
January 28, 2017: Available the results of the examination of January 26, 2017.
(Click here). Exams recording and oral exams dates will be communicated (here) later on.
January 30, 2017: Exams recording and oral exams: Wednesday February 1, Time: 10:30 a.m.
February 2, 2017: Click here to download the assignment of the examination of January 26, 2017.
February 9, 2017: Available the results of the examination of February 9, 2017.
(Click here). Exams recording and oral exams: Tuesday February 14, Time: 10:30 a.m.
May 12, 2017: Final exams (for both students having "Social Networks" (3 CFU) and students
having "Autonomous Networks" (6 CFU) in their personal study plan) A.Y. 2016/2017: (Period June 12, 2017 - July 28, 2017)
1° Tuesday June 20, 2017. Time: 10.30 a.m., room A1.1
2° Tuesday July 4, 2017. Time: 10.30 a.m., room A1.2
3° Tuesday July 18, 2017. Time: 10.30 a.m., room A1.2
For students having "Autonomous Networks" (6 CFU) in their personal study plan: they have to sustain the exam relative to the part of "Non Cooperative Networks" (3 CFU) with Prof. Proietti.
June 27, 2017: Final exams (for both students having "Social Networks" (3 CFU) and students
having "Autonomous Networks" (6 CFU) in their personal study plan) A.Y. 2016/2017: (Period September 1, 2017 - September 15, 2017)
1° Monday September 4, 2017. Time: 2.30 p.m.
For students having "Autonomous Networks" (6 CFU) in their personal study plan: they have to sustain the exam relative to the part of "Non Cooperative Networks" (3 CFU) with Prof. Proietti.
September 5, 2017: Available the results of the examination of September 4, 2017.
(Click here). Exams recording and oral exams: Monday September 11, Time: 10:30 a.m.