The role of social networks and intense friendships in study abroad students’ L2 use and speaking development

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristof Baten
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Network Development ◽  
Speaking Proficiency ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Uk

Abstract This article examines the connections among self-reported social network development, L2 use, and self-perceived speaking proficiency development in a group of Belgian ERASMUS students (n = 59) who studied abroad in different European countries (Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and the UK). The results suggest a number of differences between the participants in this study and the US cohorts who have been traditionally the focus of previous SA research. For example, the Belgian students report high levels of proficiency in the target language before going abroad and high levels of target language use while abroad. Furthermore, a number of social network variables point to differences between the ERASMUS students in the present study and the US students featuring in previous research. Nevertheless, the results also reveal some similarities, especially with regard to the social network variables ‘size’ and ‘intensity of friendship’ which were predictors of language gains for the group of students under analysis in this study and, consequently, corroborated findings of previous studies conducted with US cohorts.

scholarly journals The Social Aspects of Sexual Health: A Twitter-Based Analysis of Valentine’s Day Perception

Sexes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-59
Author(s):  
Andrea Sansone ◽  
Angelo Cignarelli ◽  
Daniele Mollaioli ◽  
Giacomo Ciocca ◽  
Erika Limoncin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Sexual Behavior ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Healthcare Research ◽  
Social Aspects ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Us ◽  
Valentine's Day ◽  
The Uk

Sentiment analysis (SA) is a technique aimed at extracting opinions and sentiments through the analysis of text, often used in healthcare research to understand patients’ needs and interests. Data from social networks, such as Twitter, can provide useful insights on sexual behavior. We aimed to assess the perception of Valentine’s Day by performing SA on tweets we collected between 28 January and 13 February 2019. Analysis was done using ad hoc software. A total of 883,615 unique tweets containing the word “valentine” in their text were collected. Geo-localization was available for 48,918 tweets; most the tweets came from the US (36,889, 75.41%), the UK (2605, 5.33%) and Canada (1661, 3.4%). The number of tweets increased approaching February 14. “Love” was the most recurring word, appearing in 111,981 tweets, followed by “gift” (55,136), “special” (34,518) and “happy” (33,913). Overall, 7318 tweets mentioned “sex”: among these tweets, the most recurring words were “sexy” (2317 tweets), “love” (1394) and “gift” (679); words pertaining to intimacy and sexual activity, such as “lingerie”, “porn”, and “date” were less common. In conclusion, tweets about Valentine’s Day mostly focus on the emotions, or on the material aspect of the celebration, and the sexual aspect of Valentine’s Day is rarely mentioned.

scholarly journals The function of the social networks of families of hospitalized children

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita de Cássia Melão de Morais ◽  
Tania Vignuda de Souza ◽  
Isabel Cristina dos Santos Oliveira ◽  
Juliana Rezende Montenegro Medeiros de Moraes ◽  
Elena Araújo Martinez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Hospitalized Children ◽  
Pediatric Hospitalization ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Family ◽  
Main Components

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the role of the social network configured by the family/companion and their implications for their stay during the hospitalization of the child in the pediatric hospitalization unit. Method: Qualitative study with ten family members/companions of hospitalized children. Data collection was done through the technique of individual interview, which occurred in the period from February to December 2015. The analysis was thematic, in light of the theoretical reference of "Social Networks" described by Lia Sanicola. Results and discussion: The main role of the social network was emotional and material support, and the main components of this network were: companion, mother, aunt and daughter, as well as nursing team, physician and other family members/companions. Final considerations and implications for the practice: It was verified that the totality of the interviewees was female, however, the husband was the most important member of the social network for the family members involved, since they perform the material/financial and emotional function. In addition, the participants consider that they are responsible for all care to the family and, in the condition in that they are, they understand it as a favor provided by the other members of the network. Identifying the composition of the social networks of family members/companions provides a better targeting of care in order to strengthen the social support received.

The Role of Social Networking in Capital Sourcing

2019 ◽  
pp. 097215091986886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ameeta Jaiswal-Dale ◽  
Fanny Simon-Lee ◽  
Giovanna Zanotti ◽  
Peter Cincinelli
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Centrality Measures ◽  
Spontaneous Growth ◽  
Empirical Results ◽  
Road Map ◽  
The Social

The aim of this research is to apply the tool of social network analysis to situations in capital sourcing, including early stage financing. The study is conducted within the social network of Medical Alley Association of Minnesota (MAA). We investigate the correlation between the main centrality measures: closeness, degree and betweenness, and the amount of funding received by the 163 MAA members during 2009–2012. Companies benefit from their social network to get access to better financing. The empirical results also provide a road map to encourage the sponsored or spontaneous growth of other social networks in related fields. Despite the financial crisis, the empirical results show how competition works when firms have established relations with others. Where an intersection occurs is merely an empirical curiosity and the causation resides in the intersection of relations. The relation that intersects on an organization determines the player’s competitive advantage.

Bridging Provider-Centric and User-Centric Social Networks

2012 ◽  
pp. 63-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
José C. Delgado
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Network Models ◽  
Migration Path ◽  
The Social ◽  
Active Service ◽  
Web Access ◽  
Close Cooperation ◽  
User Centric

Current social networks are centralized and driven by the providers’ formats, policies, and rules. Subscribing to several networks usually implies duplicating profile information and the effort of replicating changes when needed. Recently, there have been several proposals to support decentralized social networks, but these maintain the client-server paradigm. This chapter recognizes that the user is no longer a mere consumer, but rather a producer, and calls for a paradigm shift, with the user at the center of the social network scenarios, taking the role of an active service, in equal terms with social network providers. This leads to a unified user model: both individual and institutional entities are both users and providers and share the same protocols, although with different emphasis. We call this the user-centric approach and show a migration path from current social network models. To support this approach, we present a new Web access device, the browserver, which includes a browser and a server working in close cooperation, with the goal of replacing the classical browser but being backwards compatible with it to ease the migration path.

scholarly journals Networked generation growing up or maturing on social media

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 173-187
Author(s):  
V. A. Sushko ◽  
G. B. Pronchev
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Young People ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Social Knowledge ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
Growing Up ◽  
The Social

The article analyzes the processes taking place in the youth environment in the context of digitalization of society. The role of social networks is discussed. Since its inception, network analysis has been formed as an interdisciplinary direction in which psychologists, sociologists, communication specialists, anthropologists, mathematicians and statisticians combine their efforts. The social network as a way of organizing social knowledge requires a special methodological approach, different from the traditional methods of analyzing sociological information. “Digital habits” significantly affect the behavior of young people, change the “traditional” way of life. The article is of interest to specialists dealing with problems of sociology of youth, sociology of global processes, methodology of sociological research.

scholarly journals The Role of Social Networks in Creating Public Opinion About Electronic Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 379-397
Author(s):  
Shanaz Sadeq Mohamad ◽  
Sara Mohsen Qadir
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Public Opinion ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Survey Methodology ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Study Process ◽  
Electronic Education

In line with the developments of various social networks, it has made the public see a change for all the various issues in the nation, one of which was the issue of electronic education, which has been influenced by the social networks, especially by students. Therefore, from this perspective, the researcher in the research scientifically shows the role of the social networks in creating public opinion about the process of electronic study. This research is a description, a researcher who has used the research to achieve detailed and necessary data and information about the subject of survey methodology research. Among the students of Kurdistan University, Salahaddin University and World University students are research samples of 422 students of both maleand female genders, the most important results that researchers have reached are the social networks that are a reason for creating public opinion and all The data spread through the social network to a process have created public opinion about the electronic study process, the strongest network, the Facebook social network to create public opinion in Kurdistan. In the short list of research, recommendations and suggestions have been made.

Online and offline social networks in illness management of elderly patients with asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: mixed-method study using quantitative social network assessment and qualitative analysis (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Andreou ◽  
Amar Dhand ◽  
Ivaylo Vassilev ◽  
Chris J Griffiths ◽  
Pietro Panzarasa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Management Support ◽  
Social Interventions ◽  
The Social ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Respiratory Conditions

BACKGROUND Individuals' social network and social support are fundamental determinants of self-management and self-efficacy. OBJECTIVE To identify how online and offline social networks play a role in health management for patients with chronic respiratory conditions. To explore the role of support from online peers in patients’ self-management, and understand the barriers and potential benefits to digital social interventions. METHODS We recruited participants from a hospital-run singing group to a workshop in London, UK, and adapted PERSNET, a quantitative social network assessment tool on a secure open-source web platform (REDCap), to generate social maps of online and offline individuals involved in managing participants’ chronic respiratory conditions. The second workshop was replaced by telephone interviews due to COVID-19 lockdown. We analyzed the transcripts using thematic analysis. RESULTS Seven participants (2M, 5F), with an age range of 64 to 81, produced network maps that comprised between 5 and 10 individuals, including family members, healthcare professionals, colleagues, activity groups, offline and online friends, and peers. Participants with small, close-knit networks received physical, health, and emotional support, whereas those with more diverse and large networks benefited from accessing alternative/complementary sources of information. Participants in the latter type of network tended to communicate more openly about their illness, shared the impact their illness had on their day-to-day life, and demonstrated distinct traits in terms of identity and perception of chronic disease. During the COVID-19 lockdown, additional themes emerged, including the need to develop the ability to switch from offline to online communication. Participants described potential benefits of expanding their network to include online peers, as source of novel information, motivation, and access to supportive environments. Lack of technological skills, fear of being scammed, or preference for keeping illness-related problems for themselves/immediate family were reported as barriers to engage with online peer support. CONCLUSIONS The social network assessment tool proved feasible and acceptable. The visual maps facilitated reflections and enhanced participants’ understanding of the role of offline and online social networks in the management of chronic respiratory conditions. It also highlighted the work undertaken by the networks themselves in the self-management support of people with asthma or COPD. These data show the value of using a social network tool as an intervention that can support self-management, and as a research tool that can help assess and understand network structure and engagement in the self-management support of people with chronic respiratory conditions. Patients’ preferences to share illness experiences with online peers, and the contexts in which this can be acceptable, should be considered when developing and offering digital social interventions. Future studies can explore the evolution of the social networks of people with chronic illnesses to understand whether willingness to engage with online peers can change over time. CLINICALTRIAL n/a

scholarly journals Analyzing the role of social networks in mapping knowledge flows: A case of a pharmaceutical company in India

2014 ◽  
pp. 49-65
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Simple Structure ◽  
Knowledge Flows ◽  
Knowledge Mapping ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Knowledge Maps ◽  
The Social ◽  
Management Literature

Knowledge Management literature lays emphasis on the fact that a major chunk of knowledge dissemination occurs through the various forms of social networks that exist within the organizations. A social network is a simple structure comprising of set of actors or nodes that may have relationships ties with one another. The social network analysis (SNA) will help in mapping and measuring formal and informal relationships to understand what facilitates or impedes the knowledge flows that bind interacting units. This paper aims at studying the knowledge flows that happen through the social networks. It first, provides a conceptual framework and review of literature on the recent research and application of knowledge mapping and SNA, followed by a discussion on application of SNA for mapping knowledge flows in a pharmaceutical firm. In the last part, Knowledge maps are presented to illustrate the actual knowledge flow in firm.

The role of social networking in the life of under-age persons with special needs

Servis plus ◽  
10.12737/5533 ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 16-21
Author(s):  
Артур Михеев ◽  
Artur Mikheev
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Special Needs ◽  
Major Element ◽  
Social Adaptation ◽  
User Needs ◽  
The Social ◽  
Definition Of

The article present the results of research into the role of social networking in the life of under-age (aged 10–18) people with special needs (the number of respondents —120 under-age people). The aim of the research is to identify the degree of influence that social networks have on the process of social adaptation of under-age people with special needs. Each of the social networks under scrutiny was analyzed as to the user opportunities it has to offer and the user needs it can satisfy. The author also provides a definition of (1) the concept of a social network, (2) a social graph as a major element of a social network, (3) a person with special needs, and (4) population disability.

scholarly journals Dynamics of deceptive interactions in social networks

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (112) ◽  
pp. 20150798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael A. Barrio ◽  
Tzipe Govezensky ◽  
Robin Dunbar ◽  
Gerardo Iñiguez ◽  
Kimmo Kaski
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Dynamical Behaviour ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Formation Model ◽  
Opinion Formation ◽  
Small Communities ◽  
The Social

In this paper, we examine the role of lies in human social relations by implementing some salient characteristics of deceptive interactions into an opinion formation model, so as to describe the dynamical behaviour of a social network more realistically. In this model, we take into account such basic properties of social networks as the dynamics of the intensity of interactions, the influence of public opinion and the fact that in every human interaction it might be convenient to deceive or withhold information depending on the instantaneous situation of each individual in the network. We find that lies shape the topology of social networks, especially the formation of tightly linked, small communities with loose connections between them. We also find that agents with a larger proportion of deceptive interactions are the ones that connect communities of different opinion, and, in this sense, they have substantial centrality in the network. We then discuss the consequences of these results for the social behaviour of humans and predict the changes that could arise due to a varying tolerance for lies in society.

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