Theories of Communication Networks Peter R. Monge, Noshir S. Contractor
Multiple theories at multiple levels, along with attributes of nodes and the links among them, can help us understand how communication and other organizational networks are created, maintained, dissolved, and reconstituted. Theories of Communication Networks offers a new theoretical approach to the study of social networks. First, it develops a Multitheoretical model that employs different social theories to explain different network properties. Second, the Multilevel model provides a network decomposition that applies social theories at all network levels, from individuals through entire
networks. Third, the book develops an agent-based network computer simulation environment, Blanche, to generate and test network theories and hypotheses. Fourth, it presents recent developments in network statistical analysis, the p*family, which provides a basis for valid multilevel statistical inferences regarding network hypotheses. Finally, the book shows how to relate communication networks to other social networks, thus providing the basis for studying the emergence of dynamic organizational networks.