Why Context Matters

Abstract

Applications of social network analysis are implicit answers to the question of whether context matters. The answer is consistently yes, context does matter. This finding is troublesome because it fundamentally questions the wide array of research which ignores context. But what is context and for what types of research questions does it matter? First, context is defined and its relevance to research is outlined. The second paragraph of this introduction gives an outlook on the various applications of social network analysis compiled in this book and groups them by application.