Abstract: Individuals are not isolated, their mind and behavior changes often depend on the relationship with other people. Social network analysis takes this dependency into account and develops corresponding methods to study relational variable. To begin with, this article clarified the main idea of social network theory and the fundamental concepts, data representation and research methods in social network analysis. Then, two types of statistical models on individual level and relational level are introduced. Based on the data, the UCINET software is used to show the steps of process relational data. Finally, the applications of social network analysis in the Personality psychology, Developmental and Educational psychology, and Management psychology are summarized.

Key words: social network analysis, relational data, dependency, p* model