An Experiment With Social Network Analysis: Assessing the scope and scale of IISD’s relationships on Internet governance to test the usefulness of social network analysis for network evaluation

The report uses a case study of IISD's Internet governance relationships to test social network analysis (SNA). It finds that while SNA provides valuable insights into network gaps—specifically weak connections with developing nations—the high cost, complexity, and need for specialized expertise make it a challenging tool for resource-limited policy networks.

• The IISD network of relationships on Internet governance is relatively dense, with a calculated density of 44.8 per cent, which is significantly higher than results in other similar studies that often produced results below 20 per cent.
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) are the most prominent institutional types in the network, representing 44 per cent of links, while private sector links are marginal at 5 per cent.
• There is a correlation between the centrality of a network actor and the formality of their relationship with IISD; more central actors tend to have more formal links.
• Geographic analysis reveals that IISD's connections are strongest in developed nations, specifically North America and Europe, while links with less-developed nations are weaker.
• The SNA experiment led to specific strategic organizational changes at IISD, including the appointment of two new Associates to strengthen connections with governments in Europe and developing countries, and with NGOs and the technical community in Africa.
• SNA is identified as a costly and labor-intensive process that requires specialized software and external expertise, which may be prohibitively expensive for research and policy networks operating on limited budgets.

APA

Ryan, C. D., & Creech, H. (2008). An Experiment With Social Network Analysis: Assessing the scope and scale of IISD’s relationships on Internet governance to test the usefulness of social network analysis for network evaluation. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/social_network_analysis.pdf

Chicago

Ryan, Camille D., and Heather Creech. An Experiment With Social Network Analysis: Assessing the scope and scale of IISD’s relationships on Internet governance to test the usefulness of social network analysis for network evaluation. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2008. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/social_network_analysis.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ryan |first1=Camille D. |last2=Creech |first2=Heather |title=An Experiment With Social Network Analysis: Assessing the scope and scale of IISD’s relationships on Internet governance to test the usefulness of social network analysis for network evaluation |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2008 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/social_network_analysis.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ryan2008experiment, author = {Ryan, Camille D. and Creech, Heather}, title = {{An Experiment With Social Network Analysis: Assessing the scope and scale of IISD’s relationships on Internet governance to test the usefulness of social network analysis for network evaluation}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2008}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/social_network_analysis.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }