Three-Way Social Network Analysis: Triadic Measures at Three Levels

Three-way decision, as thinking in threes, realizes the power of triads and has been successfully applied across diverse fields. Due to the important role played by triads, the basic ideas of triadic thinking appear in many studies on social network analysis. While measures based on the use of dyads (i.e., edges), the use of triads (i.e., triangles) has not received its due attention. This paper explores the value of triads in defining and interpreting measures in social network. We present an in-depth examination at the node, community, and network three levels. We propose a set of triadic measures at each level. These new measures contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the structures and dynamics of social networks.