Is All That Glitters A Network? Searching for The Boundaries of The Network Approach

Abstract

Network analysis has become a powerful tool in various fields. However, the increasing popularity comes with potential problems. Unfamiliarity with the characteristics of the systems under investigation complicates network model construction and interpretation of analysis outcomes. While these issues require special attention in studies that apply the increasingly complex higher-order connectivity models, similar problems are associated with all, even the most simple, network models. Alongside technical issues, network scientists face a philosophical question: can the network approach discover the fundamental nature of a system, on the one hand, and produce useful information, on the other hand. In this perspective, I review the potential problems of the network approach and propose two solutions to address them: active evaluation of the potential and limitations of the network framework before applying a network model and a transition toward an interdisciplinary research practice to interpret analysis outcomes in their right context.