Utilising social network research in the qualitative exploration of gamblers’ social relationships

Fiona Dobbie,Susan Mcconville,Gerda Reith

doi:10.1177/1468794117710323

Fiona Dobbie, Susan Mcconville + Show 1 more

Open Access

PDF Available

https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794117710323

Copy DOI

Export

Save

Cite

Abstract
Highlights/Summary
Full-Text PDF
Similar Papers

Abstract

Listen

Social Network Analysis (SNA) is often criticised for being too quantitative in focus and network scientists have commented on a lack of engagement from qualitative researchers. This article will contribute to these debates by critically reflecting on a qualitative study of gambling where social network research methods were adapted and applied to narrative interviews. Egocentric sociograms (maps of participant social networks, using a name generation question and concentric circles) were created for 23 participants. These sociograms were used as an interactive tool, with the addition of coloured dots, to stimulate discussion and so generate rich narrative and visual data on the impacts of gambling behaviour on participants’ wider social networks. This approach represents an extension to existing SNA methods that has not previously been utilised.

Highlights

Social Network Analysis (SNA) is the study of relationships and connections most commonly, not exclusively, between individuals (Christakis, 2010). Crossley (2010) describes social networks as ‘social worlds’ made up of various individuals with shared ‘meanings, purposes, knowledge, understandings, identities’ which affect how and who they interact with (Crossley, 2010)
By critically reflecting on our experiences of introducing a visual mapping exercise into the final phase of a broader, longitudinal study, we have shown some of the potential benefits of incorporating social network research (SNR) into qualitative enquiry
We have responded to calls from network scientists for more engagement in SNR from qualitative researchers, and second, we have made a contribution to the field by expanding existing tools to visualise egonets

Summary

Introduction

Social Network Analysis (SNA) is the study of relationships and connections most commonly, not exclusively, between individuals (Christakis, 2010). Crossley (2010) describes social networks as ‘social worlds’ made up of various individuals with shared ‘meanings, purposes, knowledge, understandings, identities’ which affect how and who they interact with (Crossley, 2010). ‘formal’ SNA (Heath et al, 2009) developed within the quantitative paradigm, with statistical and, more recently, computer modelling, techniques that measure the number and frequency of connections between individuals (Tubaro et al, 2016). This has led to some criticisms that formal SNA may fail to capture the depth and diversity of social networks (Bellotti, 2015). Such criticisms can be seen as part of a broader epistemological and ontological gulf between the qualitative and quantitative approaches more generally. While concern with the latter for enumeration and prediction is rooted in the positivist tradition, the former’s focus on the understanding of meanings and social contexts is part of the philosophical tradition of interpretivism and social constructivism

Objectives

Results

Conclusion