RAND Center for Applied Network Analysis (RCANA)

Network methods consider systems holistically, rather than focusing on individual characteristics, allowing researchers to provide comprehensive insights and solutions for important policy topics.

The RAND Center for Applied Network Analysis (RCANA) promotes the application of formal network analysis of individuals, organizations, and systems across the full range of RAND’s research portfolio. The tools of network analysis allow us to analyze these relationships throughout a system. We can identify facets of the system—such as key actors, conduits of influence, and important communities—that are critical to the network’s behavior. A network analysis approach can also help us craft network interventions that leverage the structural features of networks to produce policy impacts.

RAND’s network researchers are experts from a range of fields including behavioral and social science, history, communications, business administration, mathematics, physics, and statistics, and engineering. Our background enables us to bring interdisciplinary techniques and insights to our work.

Our Focus

Our approach to network analysis takes the long view, and from every angle. Various methods—including network analysis, complex systems analysis, and social media analysis—allow us to analyze a wide range of relationships to provide objective solutions.

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Methods in Action

Journal Article
Testing a Social Network Intervention to Reduce Substance Use
A small randomized clinical trial found that a brief computer-assisted Motivational Interviewing social network intervention has potential to positively impact readiness to change alcohol and other drug use and abstinence self-efficacy among formerly homeless individuals transitioning to permanent supportive housing.
Report
Examining ISIS Support and Opposition on Twitter
ISIS uses Twitter to inspire followers, recruit fighters, and spread its message. Its opponents use Twitter to denounce the group. To identify and characterize in detail both networks on Twitter, researchers use a mixed-methods analytic approach that draws on community detection algorithms to help detect interactive communities of Twitter users, lexical analysis that can identify key themes and content for large data sets, and social network analysis.
Blog
Three Takeaways from RAND's Analysis of News in the Digital Age
How has the rise of digital technology shaped the way that news is presented? Student Mahlet Tebeka (cohort '17), alum Steve Davenport ('15), and professors Jennifer Kavanagh and Bill Marcellino conducted an empirical study to find out. Here's what you need to know from their findings.
Multimedia
Approaches to Counter Russian Social Media Influence
In this briefing, Elizabeth Bodine-Baron, co-director of the Center for Applied Network Analysis, discusses her research on the challenges combating the threat of Russian influence via disinformation spread on social media. She also shares proposed approaches and recommendations for policymakers.

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Student Spotlight

Analyzing Networks, Online and Off
Within the first few weeks of his arrival at Pardee RAND, Rouslan Karimov (cohort '15) attended two seminars that introduced him to network analysis and changed the course of his academic career. "I am very interested in the spread of information through communication networks," he said. Network analysis "really intrigued me."

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