Structural analysis and strategic research design: Studying politicized interorganizational networks

Abstract

Network analysis and structural sociology have given relatively little attention to questions of research design and data collection. This paper discusses the substantive implications of conducting structural analysis with more intensive work on research design and data collection. Based on evidence from a case study of a politicized social structure, the major features of strategic research design are presented in a discussion of cognitive and behavioral data, types of ties, multiplexity, and access restrictions.