This three-hour workshop provides an in-depth introduction to BlockmodelingGUI, a cutting-edge R package designed to simplify and enhance blockmodelling techniques in network analysis. Blockmodelling is a powerful method for identifying and interpreting patterns in relational data, making it invaluable in fields such as sociology, political science, and organisational studies. By integrating an intuitive graphical interface with the robust analytical capabilities of R, BlockmodelingGUI empowers researchers to uncover structural insights without requiring extensive coding expertise. Participants will engage in a combination of conceptual discussions and hands-on exercises, exploring the theoretical underpinnings of blockmodelling and applying these methods to real-world datasets. The workshop will cover essential workflows, from data preparation and model configuration to result interpretation and visualisation. Attendees will also discover advanced features of the package, including optimisation techniques and customisation options, enabling them to tailor analyses to their specific research questions. This session is designed for researchers, data scientists, and professionals eager to enhance their understanding of network structures. By the end of the workshop, participants will have the practical skills to harness BlockmodelingGUI in their own projects and a deeper appreciation of how blockmodelling can illuminate hidden dynamics within complex systems. Whether you are a seasoned network analyst or a newcomer to the field, this workshop offers valuable insights and tools to elevate your analytical capabilities. ## Detailed workplan 1. Introduction to Blockmodelling * Key concepts and applications in social network analysis. * Advantages of blockmodelling for understanding relational structures. 2. Getting Started with BlockmodelingGUI * Installing and setting up the package. * Overview of the graphical user interface. 3. Hands-On Analysis * Importing and preparing network data. * Building and customising blockmodels. * Interpreting results and generating visualisations. 4. Advanced Features * Optimisation techniques and parameter tuning. * Exporting and integrating results with other analyses. 5. Case Studies * Real-world examples demonstrating the package’s capabilities. * Collaborative exercises to reinforce learning. ## Format * Duration: [Specify, e.g., Half-day or Full-day workshop] * Structure: Introduction (20%) and hands-on practice (80%). * Materials: Participants will receive datasets/pre-configured R environments. ## Requirements * Participants should bring laptops with R and RStudio pre-installed. * The workshop organisers will provide a detailed setup guide before the even

Stochastic actor-oriented models as implemented in the R package RSiena help researchers study social network dynamics and the co-evolution of social networks and social actors' individual behavior. While originally developed for directed networks and discrete behavior, the model now accommodates a wide range of data types as dependent variables, including undirected networks, two-mode networks, multiplex networks, and continuous behavior. Over the years, a large selection of effects has been implemented for stochastic actor-oriented models. Many of these were motivated by the diverse set of research questions network researchers have about social dynamics. Yet, you may still run into the problem of wanting to study a social mechanism for which the RSiena manual does not contain a matching effect. In this case, if you feel comfortable programming in R, you may want to implement an effect in RSiena yourself. This workshop will discuss how to create an effect in RSiena. Since the back-end of the RSiena code was implemented in C++ for computational efficiency, creating RSiena effects involves coding in both R and C++. The workshop will give a brief introduction to C++, discussing just those parts you need to be able to create your effect. We will go through the several phases of developing an RSiena effect, going from social mechanism to effect definition to implementation and testing. We will also see how implementing effects can go wrong and discuss how you can debug your work. Finally, we will discuss how you can decide per effect, depending on your coding experience, whether to implement it yourself or to ask for help. The target audience for this workshop consists of RSiena users who feel comfortable programming in R (e.g., writing a function, writing for-loops, etc). No prior experience in C++ is required. The workshop will not introduce the stochastic actor-oriented modeling framework but only focus on implementing effects. Please refer to the Sunbelt 2025 workshop list for introductory workshops on RSiena. Length: 3 hours Capacity: 30 people

Net-Map is an interview-based mapping tool that helps people understand, visualize, discuss, and improve situations in which many different actors influence outcomes. It is an innovative, analogue and accessible approach to achieving results in complex projects where many different interests influence the result. By creating Influence Network Maps, individuals and groups can clarify their own view of a situation, foster discussion, and develop a strategic approach to their networking activities Social and organizational change often involves diverse actors outside a single hierarchy, making it challenging to coordinate actions through mandates alone. Quantitative Social Network Analysis (SNA) has been widely applied to explore these dynamics, yet Net-Map is a mixed-methods approach that enables participative collection of both qualitative and quantitative data. Net-Map moves beyond understanding network structure to reveal the “how” and “why” behind relationships and engages participants in mapping their networks, discussing opportunities and challenges, and working toward a shared vision. Net-Map has increasingly been adopted by practitioners in action research, communication strategy, advocacy, political networks, social movements, program implementation, personal development, project management, organization learning, and change management. For instance, it has been employed for strategizing government reforms in Zimbabwe, improving business relationships between fortune 500 companies, supporting personal transformation through network coaching or empowering grassroots political change movements. • A hands-on workshop: During the workshop, participants will be introduced to the Net-Map process and will practice drawing a multiplex network while also identifying perceived levels of influence of actors. Participants will indicate the actors’ goals and have an in-depth discussion about the situation. This workshop will help users to answer questions such as: Do you need to strengthen the links to an influential potential supporter (high influence, same goals)? Do you have to be aware of an influential actor who doesn’t share your goals? Can increased networking help empower your dis-empowered beneficiaries? By creating Influence Network Maps, individuals and groups can clarify their own view of a situation, foster discussion, and develop a strategic approach to their networking activities. More specifically, Net-Map will help participants to determine : – what actors are involved in a given network, – how they are linked, – how influential they are, and – what their goals are You can learn more about the technique here – http://netmap.wordpress.com/about/ • Workshop format This is a 3-hour workshop; the maximum number of attendees is 20. After a brief introduction to the approach, the participants will map actual or potential cases to experience the use of Net- Map. We will discuss these cases identifying benefits and limitations, feasibility and requirements of this approach. • Instructors Amitaksha Nag – As a systems change expert focused on facilitating collective learning in complex systems, he utilizes participatory and group modeling approaches to drive impactful outcomes. He developed the Datamuse Network Analysis tool, which has advanced the online application of Net-Map for network analysis and visualization. Ana Elia Ramon Hidalgo – Certified Net-Map trainer and currently works as an independent consultant in organizational development. She holds a PhD in Social Networks in Community- Based Natural Resources Management.