A Framework for Visualizing Social Network Influence

This paper deals with visualization that can appropriately show the characteristics deduced from relationships between pieces of information. The visualization of influence, which is used as an important index in deducing the characteristics of relationships in social network analysis, was selected as research topic, and first, the elements that show relationships within the network and the index that show influence were classified and organized. Second, the links between relational elements that show influence in social network were examined, and an influence visualization network was created. Third, an influence visualization framework was proposed which explains the interaction between social network analysis and visualization process. The influence visualization network and framework being proposed in this paper can be used not only to understand and analyze the elements that influence social network but also to make it possible to have a rational and efficient approach to network visualization. Hopefully, they will become a new methodological approach to information design.