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Past research indicates interviewer effects lead to an underestimation of network size and higher nonresponse to the "important matters" name generator. Self-administered surveys offer a potential solution, but evidence is mixed and context-specific. We employ a logistic multilevel regression, estimated using a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach, to analyze nonresponse to this name generator from 33 post-electoral surveys across 21 countries in the Comparative National Election Project. We find higher nonresponse in interviewer-administered surveys compared to self-administered surveys, particularly among specific demographic groups. Finally, we discuss the trade-offs in selecting survey modes for collecting ego-network data using this instrument. • Cross-country analysis of interview modes and nonresponse to the name generator. • Positive association between interviewer-administered surveys and nonresponse. • Consistency with prior studies on survey modes and nonresponse behavior. • Exploration of interplay between interviewer presence and respondent characteristics. • Caution advised in interpreting nonresponse as a sole indicator of social isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnic-racial socialization refers to the implicit and explicit ways individuals learn about race and ethnicity from family, media, community, and peers (Hughes et al., 2016). Ethnic-racial socialization is a central part of familial conversations for Black, Indigenous, and families of color. This research uses ego-centered network analysis to explore the different patterns and meaning-making in families when discussing issues of race and ethnicity. Overall, four family map types emerged from the data: expansive, concentrated, condensed, and balanced. In addition, participants described different themes according to their map type, overall demonstrating the multitude of ways ethnic-racial socialization manifests in families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the COVID-19 crisis, compartmental models have been largely used to predict the macroscopic dynamics of infections and deaths and to assess different non-pharmaceutical interventions aimed to contain the microscopic dynamics of person-to-person contagions. Evidence shows that the predictions of these models are affected by high levels of uncertainty. However, the link between predictions and interventions is rarely questioned and a critical scrutiny of the dependency of interventions on model assumptions is missing in public debate. In this article, I have examined the building blocks of compartmental epidemic models so influential in the current crisis. A close look suggests that these models can only lead to one type of intervention, i.e., interventions that indifferently concern large subsets of the population or even the overall population. This is because they look at virus diffusion without modelling the topology of social interactions. Therefore, they cannot assess any targeted interventions that could surgically isolate specific individuals and/or cutting particular person-to-person transmission paths. If complex social networks are seriously considered, more sophisticated interventions can be explored that apply to specific categories or set of individuals with expected collective benefits. In the last section of the article, I sketch a research agenda to promote a new generation of network-driven epidemic models.

This paper contributes to the quantitative literature on social support networks for childcare in Italy. As italy is a country characterised by a familistic welfare model, women who lack kin-based support networks, which are indeed a useful tool in this type of countries, may be disadvantaged. We considered foreign working women that have at least one cohabiting child in preschool age, and, using large scale survey data, we defined and built their ECSEN (Effective Children Support Ego-Network). We synthesized the networks observed into five main typologies through a cluster analysis, followed by an aggregative inductive procedure. This allowed to single out the support given by kin members and by other children, and to highlight situations of potential social frailty. We then identified three situations of interest that we further analysed through logistic modeling. Results underline the crucial role of living arrangements and of kin's availability in shaping the ECSEN, highlight that, differently from other family behaviours, cultural background and country of origin play a marginal role, and identify some Italian specificities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • An experimental investigation of panel conditioning effects of an ego-centered social network modules in a web survey. • The theories of motivated underreporting and survey satisficing suggest panel conditioning effects. • Results showed that reported network sizes possibly suffered from panel conditioning, while network densities did not. • Respondents' ability and motivation did not affect these results. • We encourage further exploration into the implementation of ego-centered social network modules in self-administered surveys. Abstract This article investigates the data quality of ego-centered social network modules in web surveys. It specifically examines whether these modules are subject to the effects of the repeated measurement of the same questions known as panel conditioning effects. Ego-centered social network modules are especially at risk of panel conditioning effects because many of the components in these modules are repetitive. Based on the theories of motivated underreporting and survey satisficing, we hypothesized that respondents reduce the length of the module by underreporting their network size and/or network density. To systematically test for panel conditioning effects, we experimentally varied the treatment frequency in a longitudinal study design, which included three panel waves. The results of our study showed that we generally obtained high quality data with relatively large reported network sizes and densities, low rates of item non-response, and low non-differentiation. In contrast to our expectations, the reported average network sizes were not smaller, and the network densities were not lower when respondents were asked to answer the same social network module multiple times. We found, however, patterns of individual change in network sizes that might be due to panel conditioning. Respondents with large network sizes in a panel wave reported smaller network sizes in the subsequent wave, while respondents with small network sizes reported larger network sizes in the subsequent wave. Respondents' ability and motivation did not affect these results. Thus, we would like to encourage researchers to further explore the opportunity of implementing ego-centered social network modules in cross-sectional as well as longitudinal self-administered surveys, while being cautious that in longitudinal surveys the chance of panel conditioning effects may increase with the average network size and the response burden of the network module. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twitter may be considered to be a decentralized social information processing platform whose users constantly receive their followees’ information feeds, which they may in turn dispatch to their followers. This decentralization is not devoid of hierarchy and heterogeneity, both in terms of activity and attention. In particular, we appraise the distribution of attention at the collective and individual level, which exhibits the existence of attentional constraints and focus effects. We observe that most users usually concentrate their attention on a limited core of peers and topics, and discuss the relationship between interactional and informational attention processes—all of which, we suggest, may be useful to refine influence models by enabling the consideration of differential attention likelihood depending on users, their activity levels, and peers’ positions.

This article links different theoretical-conceptual fields, methodological perspectives and methods usually juxtaposed in sociological work. From a theoretical point of view it focuses on the idea of cohesion and integration as expressions of the distribution of resources of social Capital. in a perspective between conceptual and methodological issues it refers to the theory and analysis of social networks and also to intermediate concepts between networks, cohesion, integration and social capital such as Bonding and Bridging. the empirical references of its application are six human collectives, which are the expression of different modes of belonging and integration into society. in terms of analysis and interpretation, on the one hand, a combination of classical socialdemographical variables is used, and, on the other hand, relational variables are used. these latter variables are expressed under two modes, socio-metric and ego-centred. in this sense the article also shows the effectiveness and relevance of the socio-metric and ego-centred networks and its indicators.

This study (1) tested the effectiveness of a new survey tool to collect ego-centered network data and (2) assessed the impact of giving people feedback about their network on subsequent responses. The new tool, GENSI (Graphical Ego-centered Network Survey Interface), allows respondents to describe all network contacts at once via a graphical representation of their networks. In an online experiment, 434 American adults were randomly assigned to answer traditional network questions or GENSI and were randomly assigned to receive feedback about their network or not. The traditional questionnaire and GENSI took the same amount of time to complete, and measurements of racial composition of the network showed equivalent convergent validity in both survey tools. However, the new tool appears to solve what past researchers have considered to be a problem with online administration: exaggerated numbers of network connections. Moreover, respondents reported enjoying GENSI more than the traditional tool. Thus, using a graphical interface to collect ego-centered network data seems to be promising. However, telling respondents how their network compared to the average Americans reduced the convergent validity of measures administered after the feedback was provided, suggesting that such feedback should be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article deals with the possible blending of genograms and sociograms into a unified and variable tool for the collection, visualization, and analysis of relationship contexts. Shared perspectives on personal relationships by genograms and sociograms are highlighted and integrative concepts from the literature are presented. My proposal is, then, to conceptualize both family and non-family relations as genosociograms and to analyze them as egocentric (personal) networks of relationships. This is illustrated by the example of the (non-clinical) case of the genosociogram of a student. The network analysis of her genosociogram reveals several interesting insights into the differential centrality of people in her network, into differences of the relationship structure across different network sectors, and into the particular relationship constellations of her network members. The consequences and chances of genosociograms for clinical casework and systemic theorizing are discussed in the concluding section of the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study examines how the significance of weak ties varies by contact initiation and purposes of contact in everyday life. Based on data from 55 contact diaries, we analyze the extent to which diary keepers judge each of 104,361 specific contacts as beneficial after they occur, by how well they knew the target person beforehand. Our hypothesis testing and bootstrap resampling show that when a diary keeper initiates a contact, weak ties result in more gains. In contrast, when the other party starts the contact, it is strong rather than weak ties that turn out to be more beneficial to the diary keeper. Such effects vary by other contextual factors, however, particularly the purposes of contacts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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Copyright of Zeitschrift für Familienforschung (ZzF) is the property of University of Bamberg Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of BMS: Bulletin de Méthodologie Sociologique (l'Association Internationale de Méthodologie Sociologique (AIMS)) is the property of l'Association Internationale de Methodologie Sociologique (AIMS) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Collecting survey data on ego-centered social networks is a difficult task, owing to the complex questionnaire format. Usually, the interviewer handles the dynamics of the question–answer exchange, motivates the respondent and ensures the proper recording of the data. Self-administered modes of data collection, especially web data collection, are more problematic, as the respondents are left alone with a complex and burdensome questionnaire. Therefore, questionnaire layout is crucial for ensuring cooperation and data quality. In this paper we examined three key components of the corresponding web questionnaire: the number of name boxes using a single name generator, question format for assessing alter characteristics (i.e. alter-wise vs. question-wise) and number of name interpreters (i.e. alter characteristics). The number of name boxes was found to be essential for the reported size of social networks and also for some aspects of data quality. Specific data quality effects were also found with respect to variations in question format, where question-wise format performed better than alter-wise. The number of name interpreters had a relatively minor effect. Suggestions for possible standardization of the web interface layout are also given, so that equivalence with other data collection modes can be established. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Many studies of ego-centered networks have aimed to obtain proxies for networks that help estimate their size and nature. As an alternative, the contact diary offers a comprehensive approach that records and yields archives of actual and comprehensive networks. In the long run, the actual and dynamic data from contact diaries can provide researchers with a potential baseline and delineate total or global personal networks within a specific time frame. This article explains how to use the diary approach to collect network data. After a review of studies that have adopted diaries in general and contact diaries in particular, I then discuss a recent diary study's research design in more practical terms. Finally, 1 appraise some advantages and limitations of the approach and explore other uses of contact diaries, such as building archives of year-long, active networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent work has demonstrated that many networks have broad distributions of vertex degree. Here we show that this has a substantial impact on the shape of ego-centered networks and on concepts and methods based on ego-centered networks, such as snowball sampling and the "ripple effect". In particular, we argue that one's acquaintances, one's immediate neighbors in the acquaintance network, are far from being a random sample of the population, and that this biases the numbers of neighbors two and more steps away. We demonstrate this concept using data on academic collaboration networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on urban climate governance has grown rapidly over the last years. A number of local and regional projects and events show that cities play an important role in climate change protection activities. Successful urban climate change governance requires the collaboration of actors from various societal sectors as no single sector is able to unilaterally and successfully implement policies or programs that would affect almost all other socio-economic activities. This paper therefore seeks to examine the collaboration of diverse urban climate change actors. We analyze the connections between these individuals and climate protection-related organizations, projects and events. We also look at how diverse the different types of organizations are. Our empirical data consists of the organizational memberships of individual actors in a medium-sized German city, the attributes of these actors and their participation in organizations, projects or events related to climate protection. The data was collected through an online network survey. Our findings reveal the diversity of organizations and suggest a typology of climate change activists as well as a typology of climate change projects and organizations. The results of the study can be used to better coordinate and support the cooperation of different urban climate change protection actors. • Successful climate change governance requires the collaboration of actors from various sectors as no single sector is able to unilaterally and successfully implement policies or programs that would affect almost all other socio-economic activities. This approach can help administrations and practitioners coordinate and support different urban climate change protection actors in their activities. • The empirical data consists of the organizational memberships of individual actors in a medium-sized German city, the attributes of these actors and their participation in organizations, projects or events in relation to climate protection. The data was collected through an online network survey. • We analyze the connections between diverse individuals using the Herfindahl's diversity index based on the criteria gender, age, and affiliation. • We use a factor analysis to create a typology of urban climate change actors and a principle component analysis to examine through which organization or project these actors met. • Additionally, we test the resulting typology of climate change actors qualitatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twitter may be considered to be a decentralized social information processing platform whose users constantly receive their followees' information feeds, which they may in turn dispatch to their followers. This decentralization is not devoid of hierarchy and heterogeneity, both in terms of activity and attention. In particular, we appraise the distribution of attention at the collective and individual level, which exhibits the existence of attentional constraints and focus effects. We observe that most users usually concentrate their attention on a limited core of peers and topics, and discuss the relationship between interactional and informational attention processes—all of which, we suggest, may be useful to refine influence models by enabling the consideration of differential attention likelihood depending on users, their activity levels, and peers' positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]