James Kitts

James Kitts serves as Professor of Sociology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, specializing in computational approaches to social networks, organizational dynamics, and collective behavior. His interdisciplinary work bridges sociology with data science and public health applications.

Education

• Ph.D. in Sociology, Cornell University (2001)
• M.A. in Sociology, Cornell University (1998)
• M.S. in Natural Resources & Environment, University of Michigan (1995)
• B.A. in Environmental Studies, Oberlin College (1992)

Research Focus: Kitts' scholarship centers on computational social science methodologies applied to social networks, examining how structural positions shape behavioral diffusion, organizational exchange, and norm formation. His work spans adolescent friendship dynamics, healthcare system coordination, and the emergence of antisocial norms through computational modeling and network analysis. Recent publications demonstrate increasing integration of digital trace data with traditional sociological frameworks.

Publication Trends: His 2017-2021 work reveals a concentrated focus on computational network analysis in healthcare systems (patient transfers) and adolescent social structures, while earlier research (2003-2011) established foundational contributions to network methodology, collective action theory, and automated social analysis through audio sensing. The Oxford Handbook chapter (2020) synthesizes computational advances across the discipline.

Scientific Recognition: No specific awards are documented in the source material, though his American Journal of Sociology publication (2017) represents a high-impact contribution to organizational network studies.

Professional Activities: As a core faculty member, Kitts contributes to UMass Amherst's Data Analytics and Computational Social Science program, mentoring through departmental structures. The source material indicates no explicit grant details or student advisement listings, though his collaborative publications suggest active research team leadership.