Social network analysis design and implementation worksheet

Define network boundaries, who is a node, and tie types, which edges are measured, first. These underlie the entire analysis.

When to use this worksheet and what completion involves Fictional completed example

EvalCompass Worksheet

Social network analysis design and implementation worksheet

Method: Social Network Analysis

Define network boundaries, who is a node, and tie types, which edges are measured, first. These underlie the entire analysis.

Basic information

Define the analytical framework.

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

Program and evaluation issue: Community consultation coordination
Nodes, such as city parenting support organizations: 4 organizations A, B, C and D (fictional)
Edge types: information sharing / joint programs / funding: Referral relationship confirmed by both parties during the period
Network boundaries and rationale: Organizations attending the same consultation coordination meeting
Analyst and implementation period: Staff member A / April–June 2026 (fictional)

Reason for this entry: Do not claim coverage of all local organizations.

Program and evaluation issue

Nodes, such as city parenting support organizations

Edge types: information sharing / joint programs / funding

Network boundaries and rationale

Analyst and implementation period

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

Define the analytical framework.

Do not claim coverage of all local organizations.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Follow each field’s heading to record the program name, focus, period, and other details. Leave undecided matters clearly marked as unresolved.

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Relationship data collection design

Design survey and collection details.

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Collection method: survey / documents / observation	Target node count	Target response rate (%)	Tie direction: directed / undirected	Tie strength measurement: presence / absence or scale
Referral records and organizational confirmation	4	Target 100%; record non-response separately.	Undirected: both parties confirm referral in either direction	Presence within the period

Reason for this entry: Specify how directed referrals become undirected ties.

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Collection method: survey / documents / observation	Target node count	Target response rate (%)	Tie direction: directed / undirected	Tie strength measurement: presence / absence or scale

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

Design survey and collection details.

Specify how directed referrals become undirected ties.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Keep the information in each row aligned. Scroll wide tables horizontally to see every column.

Read the full fictional example

Network indicator plan

Link planned indicators to evaluation questions.

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Indicator: density / centrality, etc.	Link to evaluation question	Target or comparison standard	Calculation tool
Density	Breadth of connections within scope	Fictional value 0.5; no universal target	Calculate from the verified adjacency matrix.

Reason for this entry: Do not automatically translate indicator values into quality judgments.

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Indicator: density / centrality, etc.	Link to evaluation question	Target or comparison standard	Calculation tool

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

Link planned indicators to evaluation questions.

Do not automatically translate indicator values into quality judgments.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Keep the information in each row aligned. Scroll wide tables horizontally to see every column.

Read the full fictional example

Visualization plan

Design the network diagram.

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

Use organizational pseudonyms and only referral edges. Normally publish aggregates; agree scope with stakeholders for potentially identifying diagrams.

Reason for this entry: Structure can identify organizations even under pseudonyms.

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

Design the network diagram.

Structure can identify organizations even under pseudonyms.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Use the example as a reference and record what you have established about your own program. Distinguish assumptions and unchecked matters from confirmed facts.

Read the full fictional example

Completion check

Completed example for this section (fictional)

This fictional example is for explanation. Adapt it to your own program. Your entries will not change.

☑ Checked: Documented nodes and boundaries
☑ Checked: Specified edge types and direction
☑ Checked: Reported response rate and missing-node impacts
☑ Checked: Added interpretation to diagrams
☐ Not checked: Interpreted indicator changes against questions
☐ Not checked: Identified isolates and implications for intervention

Reason for this entry: A single-time illustration without change analysis. Absence of isolates here does not prove absence of isolation across the community.

Documented nodes and boundaries
Specified edge types and direction
Reported response rate and missing-node impacts
Added interpretation to diagrams
Interpreted indicator changes against questions
Identified isolates and implications for intervention

Writing tips and explanation for this section

About this section

A single-time illustration without change analysis. Absence of isolates here does not prove absence of isolation across the community.

View the method explanation

Writing tips

Read each item and check those you have confirmed. Do not use the fictional example’s checkbox states as findings about your own program.

Read the full fictional example

Before writing, check when to use the worksheet and what completion involves

Social network analysis design and implementation worksheet is a worksheet for applying Social Network Analysis in meetings or individual work. For the overall duration of the method, use “Planning example, not a universal standard duration: 2 weeks–2 months for survey design, collection, analysis and visualization” as a reference, adjusting for scale and resources. Fill in what you know provisionally and leave unresolved matters as questions to check next.

When this worksheet is useful

When visualizing and measuring stakeholder connections in programs strengthening collaboration
When identifying overall structure and key connectors in collective impact or multi-agency programs
When information, resources or support concentrate in certain organizations and bottlenecks need identifying

Participants and preparation

Data collectors, analysts and participants. Check boundaries, tie definitions, sharing scope and consent; report effects of remaining missingness.

Bring the materials used for decisions, existing data, and differing stakeholder views to help complete the worksheet.

Suggested order

1. Basic informationDefine the analytical framework.
2. Relationship data collection designDesign survey and collection details.
3. Network indicator planLink planned indicators to evaluation questions.
4. Visualization planDesign the network diagram.
5. Completion check

Signs the worksheet is ready for review

Network diagram of centrality and edge weights
Network indicators: density, average distance and node centrality
Pre/post report interpreting intervention-related structural changes

Cautions for review

Producing diagrams without interpretation. Attractive visualization is a starting point, not the final output. Always explain how density or centrality changes relate to questions.
Do not code non-respondents' ties as absent. Check concentrated missingness, boundaries and collection coverage. Do not judge whole-network credibility solely by a universal response threshold.
Assuming denser is better. Closed clusters can trap information; weak ties may matter for external information exchange.

Read a completed fictional example (your entries will not change)

Fictional example; not actual results

A fictional illustrative network of 4 organizations, with 1 undirected edge for a mutually confirmed referral relationship during the period.

Basic information

Program and evaluation issue: Community consultation coordination
Nodes, such as city parenting support organizations: 4 organizations A, B, C and D (fictional)
Edge types: information sharing / joint programs / funding: Referral relationship confirmed by both parties during the period
Network boundaries and rationale: Organizations attending the same consultation coordination meeting
Analyst and implementation period: Staff member A / April–June 2026 (fictional)

Reason for this entry: Do not claim coverage of all local organizations.

Relationship data collection design

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Collection method: survey / documents / observation	Target node count	Target response rate (%)	Tie direction: directed / undirected	Tie strength measurement: presence / absence or scale
Referral records and organizational confirmation	4	Target 100%; record non-response separately.	Undirected: both parties confirm referral in either direction	Presence within the period

Reason for this entry: Specify how directed referrals become undirected ties.

Network indicator plan

Scroll horizontally to view the table

Indicator: density / centrality, etc.	Link to evaluation question	Target or comparison standard	Calculation tool
Density	Breadth of connections within scope	Fictional value 0.5; no universal target	Calculate from the verified adjacency matrix.

Reason for this entry: Do not automatically translate indicator values into quality judgments.

Visualization plan

Use organizational pseudonyms and only referral edges. Normally publish aggregates; agree scope with stakeholders for potentially identifying diagrams.

Reason for this entry: Structure can identify organizations even under pseudonyms.

Completion check

☑ Checked: Documented nodes and boundaries
☑ Checked: Specified edge types and direction
☑ Checked: Reported response rate and missing-node impacts
☑ Checked: Added interpretation to diagrams
☐ Not checked: Interpreted indicator changes against questions
☐ Not checked: Identified isolates and implications for intervention

Reason for this entry: A single-time illustration without change analysis. Absence of isolates here does not prove absence of isolation across the community.

Common errors in judgment

Judging non-responding organizations isolated

How to revise: Distinguish unobserved ties from absent ties.

Reason: Missingness may simply hide edges.

Combining referral, funding and information ties

How to revise: Record relationship types separately.

Reason: Combining different functions into one density prevents interpretation.

Editorial and checking information

Content updated: 2026-09-13Source checked: 2026-09-13 (includes AI cross-checking)No documented human reviewIncludes fictional examplesEditorial policy and scope of checking Cite this page Report a correction

References and checked sections

Social Network Analysis
Olivier Serrat／Asian Development Bank · 2009
Section consulted
Social Network Analysis
How it relates to the text
Tie definitions and analytical boundaries determine indicator meanings because the method measures relationship structures.
Source checked: 2026-09-13 (includes AI cross-checking)

How to cite this page

EvalCompass Editorial Team. “Social network analysis design and implementation worksheet”. EvalCompass, updated 2026-09-13. https://evalcompass.jun-nakatani.com/en/worksheets/social-network-analysis/

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Change history

2026-09-13 — Checked sources for definitions and applicability conditions, and added fictional examples, reasons for judgments and examples for every worksheet field. Revised unverified claims about history and adoption. Also reviewed existing procedures and cautions, and adjusted fixed participant counts and thresholds and generalizations about institutions.