Free Social Network Analysis Survey
50+ Expert Crafted Social Network Analysis Survey Questions
Unlock the hidden dynamics of your organization by measuring Social Network Analysis - you'll pinpoint key influencers, track information flow, and strengthen collaboration across teams. A Social Network Analysis survey maps the relationships and connections between individuals to reveal opportunities, bottlenecks, and untapped partnerships. Get started now with our free template preloaded with example questions - or head over to our form builder to craft a custom survey that fits your unique needs.
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Top Secrets You Must Know About Social Network Analysis Surveys
The Social Network Analysis survey is a gateway to understanding how people connect, share, and influence each other within any group. It matters because it reveals hidden patterns of communication and influence that traditional polls miss. By mapping relationships, you can identify key influencers, isolate information bottlenecks, and design more effective engagement strategies. In fact, a recent paper in the R Journal shows that interactive tools can validate SNA techniques and ensure insights match real-world ties.
Start with clear objectives: do you want to map advice flows, collaboration trends, or advocacy networks? Draft concrete questions like "What do you value most about your professional connections?" and "How often do you seek advice from peers in your network?". Use concise language and consistent scales. Check out our Network Analysis Survey template to see proven question frameworks.
Picture a marketing team at a startup using an online poll to gauge how brand advocates share product news in their circles. They ask members to list up to five contacts they talk with weekly, then measure centrality to pinpoint micro-influencers. This simple scenario can transform your outreach by focusing on the right connectors instead of broad demographics.
Ensure validity by leveraging community detection algorithms and centrality metrics. Tools like igraph and Gephi can bring structure to your raw survey data. For a deep dive into key SNA methods - like link prediction and community detection - see the survey on SNA techniques in the JStage Journal.
Next, pilot your survey with a small group to catch ambiguous wording or missing options. Small tweaks in question order can boost completion rates and data quality. With these top secrets in hand, you'll be ready to launch a Social Network Analysis survey that yields actionable, reliable insights.
Finally, analyze your results visually and statistically. A network graph colored by department or sentiment can highlight cross-team bridges or isolation zones. Combine qualitative feedback with metrics like betweenness centrality to tell the full story. These best practices will help you avoid guesswork and lead your team to confident decisions backed by data.
Don't Launch Your Social Network Analysis Survey Until You Read This
Launching a Social Network Analysis survey without preparation can lead to misleading results. One common mistake is unclear objectives - survey questions that lack focus on your true network goals. Avoid vague prompts that ask "Who do you know?" and offer no context. Instead, ground each item in a clear use case, like tracking advice flows among healthcare teams, as highlighted by the Systematic Reviews Journal.
Another pitfall is ignoring network boundaries. It's tempting to let respondents add unlimited peers, but unbounded lists can skew density metrics. Tip: define a boundary with filters such as department or project membership, then ask "How often do you seek advice from peers in your network?". This small change improves data consistency and analytic clarity.
Poor question order is a sneaky trap. Hammering respondents with complex prompts at the start can spike drop-off rates. Pilot with a brief group, reorder items for logical flow, and watch completion climb. For example, lead with an easy "rate the strength of your ties" scale before deeper queries.
Privacy concerns often go overlooked. Respondents may hesitate to name colleagues if anonymity isn't assured. Be transparent about data handling, use unique IDs instead of names, and store results on secure servers. The ACM survey on privacy warns that ignoring this step can halve your response rate.
Finally, don't misinterpret metrics. Centrality scores and modularity values carry meaning only in context. Pair quantitative measures with short interviews or open”ended feedback for a complete picture. Ready to refine your approach? Check our Social Networking Sites Survey Questions for examples that balance depth with clarity.
Avoid these common mistakes, and your survey will deliver reliable, actionable insights. With proper design, pilot testing, and ethical safeguards in place, you can transform raw responses into a clear map of your organization's social fabric. Implement these tips before you hit send, and watch your Social Network Analysis survey yield trustworthy data that drives real change.
Network Structure Questions
These questions explore the overall shape and connectivity of your social network to help map key relationships and patterns. Use insights from our Network Analysis Survey to understand how your network's size and density impact information flow.
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How many unique individuals do you regularly communicate with on this platform?
This question measures the size of your personal network to assess reach and diversity of connections.
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On average, how many new connections do you form each month?
Tracking new ties helps evaluate network growth and potential for expanding influence.
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What percentage of your contacts know each other?
Assessing triadic closure reveals clustering and potential for community formation.
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How often do you connect with contacts outside your immediate circle?
This helps gauge bridge-building and opportunities for accessing novel information.
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Can you identify any groups within your network? If so, how many?
Identifying subgroups assists in understanding network segmentation and focus areas.
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How many contacts do you interact with at least once a week?
Regular interaction frequency indicates the core of your active network and strong ties.
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What is the average path length between you and other contacts?
Measuring path length provides insight into network efficiency and cohesion.
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How many contacts share similar interests or affiliations?
This assesses homophily and potential echo chambers within your network.
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How many contacts have you communicated with in the last 24 hours?
Short-term interaction count reflects current engagement intensity and network activity.
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How many mutual connections exist between you and your top five contacts?
Mutual tie count helps evaluate the strength and redundancy of your inner circle.
Node Centrality Questions
This section focuses on how individuals occupy central or influential positions in your network to reveal key connectors. Answers will help tailor strategies drawn from our Social Interaction Survey for strengthening or diversifying your influence.
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On a scale of 1 - 5, how central do you feel within your network?
Self-perceived centrality highlights confidence in your connectivity and influence.
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How many times have others sought your opinion in the past month?
Frequency of consultation indicates real-world centrality and authority.
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How often do you initiate group discussions or threads?
Initiation behavior reflects proactive central roles in information diffusion.
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How many contacts do you consider as key information hubs?
Identifying hubs helps map critical nodes for targeted engagement.
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How often do you receive replies or reactions within one hour of posting?
Rapid engagement rates signal responsiveness and central visibility.
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How many direct messages do you send on an average day?
DM volume measures private outreach and one-on-one connection strength.
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How many times have you been tagged in group photos or mentions this week?
Tag frequency indicates visibility and peer recognition in your network.
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How many invitations to join new groups or events have you received?
Invitation count highlights your role as a sought-after connector or influencer.
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In the past month, how many requests for introductions have you facilitated?
Introduction facilitation demonstrates brokerage and network-building activity.
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How many contacts follow your public posts or updates?
Follower count reveals your broadcast reach and potential impact within the network.
Relationship Strength Questions
These questions assess the quality and depth of your ties to better understand support dynamics and trust levels, building on our Social Support Survey framework.
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How close do you feel to your top five contacts on a scale of 1 - 5?
Personal closeness ratings gauge emotional bond intensity within key relationships.
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How often do you share personal updates or feelings with your closest contacts?
Frequency of personal sharing indicates trust and intimacy levels.
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How many contacts would you turn to for emotional support in a crisis?
Support network size reflects perceived reliability and companionship.
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How frequently do you collaborate with contacts on projects or tasks?
Collaboration frequency measures relationship investment and mutual value.
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How often do you engage in face-to-face or video conversations?
Direct interactions strengthen bonds beyond text-based exchanges.
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How many contacts do you consider "very trustworthy"?
Trust count highlights safe relationships for sensitive discussions.
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On average, how much time do you spend per week interacting with each close contact?
Time investment signals the priority assigned to individual relationships.
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How often do you celebrate milestones (e.g., birthdays) with contacts?
Shared celebrations reflect mutual attention and relationship rituals.
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How many contacts would you ask for help finding a new job or resource?
Practical support willingness indicates functional strength of ties.
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How often do you provide assistance or advice to your contacts?
Support provision frequency shows reciprocity and active engagement in relationships.
Information Flow Questions
This set examines how information spreads through your network, aiming to optimize messaging strategies and reduce bottlenecks; insights align with our Impact of Social Media Survey .
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How often do you share news articles or resources with your network?
Sharing frequency measures your role in disseminating information.
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How many contacts forward your shared content to others?
Forwarding counts indicate the viral potential of your messages.
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How quickly do contacts respond when you tag them in a post?
Response speed reflects engagement and attentiveness to your updates.
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How often do you receive information or updates from contacts first?
First-receipt frequency shows your proximity to information sources.
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How many times has information from you originated a group discussion?
Discussion triggers measure your influence on collective attention.
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How often do you verify information before sharing?
Verification behavior reflects your commitment to credibility.
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How many contacts provide feedback on the content you share?
Feedback rates indicate engagement depth and dialogue quality.
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How frequently do you use tags or hashtags to categorize information?
Tagging practices affect discoverability and information routing.
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How many contacts have you added to relevant group chats or channels?
Group additions reflect your role in curating targeted information flows.
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How often do you archive or bookmark shared resources?
Archival habits reveal long-term value and information retention patterns.
Community Detection Questions
Use these questions to uncover subgroups, cliques, or hidden communities within your network and refine engagement tactics, inspired by our Social Media Platforms Survey .
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How many distinct groups or communities can you identify within your network?
Group count provides an initial map of network segmentation.
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How often do members of one group interact with members of another?
Cross-group interactions indicate bridging ties and network cohesion.
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How many contacts belong to more than one community?
Overlap highlights potential brokers between subgroups.
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How frequently do community members organize events or meetups?
Event frequency reflects community vitality and engagement.
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How many groups are centered around shared interests or hobbies?
Interest-based groups signal thematic clustering and affinity ties.
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How often do you belong to discussion or interest-based groups?
Personal membership frequency shows integration into subcommunities.
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How many contacts are inactive within their communities?
Inactivity rates help identify weak or dormant clusters.
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How many community-led projects or collaborations have you joined?
Participation measures community engagement and social capital.
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How often do you switch between different community channels or groups?
Channel switching signals exploratory behavior and boundary spanning.
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How many times have you facilitated introductions between community members?
Facilitation count reflects your brokerage role within local subgroups.
User Demographics & Behavior Questions
Gather essential background and usage insights to contextualize network analysis results and personalize outreach, referenced from our Social Media Survey Questions .
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What is your age group?
Age stratification helps examine generational differences in network use.
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What is your primary occupation?
Occupation informs possible professional clustering and shared interests.
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Which region or country do you reside in?
Geographic data allows for mapping location-based network patterns.
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How many hours per day do you spend on social platforms?
Usage duration correlates with potential network activity and saturation.
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What is your primary reason for using this platform?
Motivation categories (e.g., networking, entertainment) guide content strategy.
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How tech-savvy would you rate yourself on a scale of 1 - 5?
Self-assessed tech skill predicts adoption of advanced network tools.
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How often do you update your profile or status?
Update frequency reflects self-presentation and engagement levels.
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Do you use any analytics or third-party tools for social tracking?
Tool usage indicates familiarity with data-driven network management.
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How comfortable are you sharing personal data with your contacts?
Privacy comfort guides openness and community trustworthiness.
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How likely are you to recommend this platform to others?
Recommendation propensity measures advocacy and network growth potential.