The Threads of Campus Life: A Review of the Literature on the Use of Social Network Analysis in Research Articles on Undergraduate Students

Higher education scholars and practitioners recognize the essential role students’ relationships with others play in learning processes, yet research that examines how campuses shape social structures and their effects using relational methods appears limited and disconnected. We systematically review literature from 2010–2023 that has applied social network analysis (SNA) to the study of undergraduate students to identify the research questions, theoretical frameworks, and measures used. We observed that many studies lacked a clear alignment between the context of the study, network theory, research design, and results. Connections between theory and network measurement choices are fruitful areas for development. Based on our review’s findings indicating substantial opportunity to capitalize on SNA’s full potential to understand the social structures of campus life, we suggest future directions toward a shared project of using network approaches to advance equitable learning environment design for college students.