In recent years a number of researchers within our PER community have started using Network Analysis as a new methodology to extend our understanding of teaching and learning physics by viewing these as complex systems. I will discuss how the work of our research group has identified relevant networks analysing these networks. In so doing I will show how a network can be methodologically described as a set of relations between a set of entities, and how a network can be characterized and analyzed as a mathematical object. Then, as an illustrative example, I will discuss our current work that is using networks to create insightful maps of learning discussions. To conclude, I will show how the adoption of a complex system methodology can lead to rich interplays between qualitative and quantitative analysis to generate a powerful "mixed methods" methodological framing.

Plenary talk: http://www.compadre.org/per/perc/2016/browse.cfm?Audiences=901-Plenary&SortBy=Field1