Re: social network analysis

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From: Steve Schapel (schapel_at_mvps.org.ns)
Date: 12/26/04 

Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2004 07:24:00 +1300

Phillip,

I am not sure whether this is the best way, but here's an idea... You
will need a table to define the relationships. It will require 3
fields, RelationshipFrom, RelationshipTo, and RelationshipType. The
RelationshipFrom and RelationshipTo fields will both contain linked data
to the primary key field of the main People table, let's say this is
PersonID. This will allow for non-reciprocal relationships. In other
words, if A is B's workmate, then B will presumably always be A's
workmate, but if C thinks D is his friend, doesn't automatically mean
that D will regard C as his friend. So, for example, if the PersonIDs
of John, Mary, Bob, and Fran are 1, 2, 3, and 4, and let's suppose John
and Fran are workmates, and Fran also regards Bob as a friend, and Mary
and Bob are married, the data in the Relationships table might look like
this...

  1 4 workmate
  4 1 workmate
  4 1 friend
  2 3 husband
  3 2 wife

On the basis of this, you should be able to do the analyses you need.
As for data entry, if you have a form based on the Relationships table,
which you place as a subform on the main People form, you will be able
to enter as many relationship definitions with as many other people as
required, for any given individual. You could use VBA code on this
subform's AfterUpdate event to automatically enter the "mirror"
relationship where applicable, e.g. if you are on John's record and
enter a workmate relationship with Fran, the code will append a record
for Fran's workmate relationshp with John. 

-- 
Steve Schapel, Microsoft Access MVP
PhillipM wrote:
> Is it possible to construct a database in access that would keep track of 
> complex (many-to-many) social relationships?  I've been puzzling over 
> relationships for a while but can't see how it can be done.  Am I missing 
> something?  
> 
> What access won't seem to do is this:
> There is a primary table with a list of people.
> In each record there is a multiple-entry field for inserting links to other 
> records in the same table. 
> 
> So, for example, John, Mary, Bob, and Fran are in the database.  John is 
> friends with Mary and Bob but not Fran.  I would like to be able to insert 
> links on John's record to Mary and Bob.  Similarly, Mary is friends with 
> John, Bob and Fran and I would like to have a field containing links to all 
> three other records.  The idea is to have a database that can examine and 
> manuplate social network information: i.e., X is Y's spouse , friends with A, 
> B, & C, and works with P & Q.  Is there some way of doing this in Access or 
> do I need a different product?

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