People, places, businesses, governments—the modern world is a highly networked one. Researchers can infer meaning by studying the behaviors and relationships of these deeply interconnected systems.
For instance, social connections could have an impact on decisionmaking processes. Relationships can affect health outcomes. And networks can even inform the likelihood of a person to engage in extremist behavior.
The RAND Center for Applied Network Analysis promotes the application of formal network analysis of individuals, organizations, and systems across the full range of RAND’s research portfolio. We pose questions like, “Which relationships matter to a policy outcome?” and “How do relationships create communities?” And we use insights from investigating these questions to advise policy makers on the physical, human and organizational systems they seek to steward.
Network methods consider systems holistically rather than focusing on individual characteristics, allowing us to provide comprehensive insights and solutions for important policy topics.
And our researchers are experts in fields such as policy analysis, mathematics, behavioral and social science, medicine, physics, statistics and engineering, bringing a vital interdisciplinary spirit to the 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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