Methodological Issues in Comparative Network Research

Tina Kogovšek and Valentina Hlebec

University of Ljubljana

Faculty of Social Sciences

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The research problem

Comparison of social networks as sources of social support over time. Comparison of social support networks of the residents of Slovenia before and after the transition (1991).

However, to be able to do that, measurement instruments have to be as similar as possible.

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The research problem

The differences in measurement instruments

network composition (% of women, kin, friends etc.) and other tie and network

characteristics

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Data

The 1987 study (Faculty of Social Sciences)

a representative sample of 289 residents of Slovenia

The 2002 study (Center for Methodology and Informatics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Social Protection Institute of the RS)

a representative sample of 5013 residents of Slovenia

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Measurement approaches

- Name generator approach (NG)

Who are the people, with whom you discuss important personal matters? names

- Role relationship approach (RR)

Who are the people, with whom you discuss important personal matters? Who do you turn to first for help? Who do you turn to second? role relations (partner, father, mother, sister, friend...)

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Measured social support dimensionsSupport type 1987 2002

Discussion NG NG

Material RR NG (2)

Financial RR NG

Illness RR NG

Troubles with partner

RR /

Sadness/depression

RR /

Advice RR /

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The Burt name generator (1987)

From time to time, most people discuss important personal matters with other people. Looking back over the last six months, who are the people with whom you discussed an important personal matter? Please just tell me their first names or initials.

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The Burt name generator (2002)

From time to time, most people discuss important personal matters with other people, for instance, if they quarrel with someone, when they have problems at their work, family problems or similar. Who are the people with whom you discuss personal matters that are important to you?

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The Burt name generator

Differences:

1. Question wording:

- Actual (last six months, 1987) vs. usual (2002) support,

- Cues in 2002; prompting for additional persons in 1987;

2. Data collected on first 5 alters (1987) vs. all alters (2002).

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The Burt name generator

1987: relatively diverse networks (kin,

friends, neighbors, co-workers); slightly larger networks;

2002: strongly kin, partner and friend oriented networks; few weak ties.

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2002 – comparison of 6+ networks (%)

first 5 alters all alters first 5 alters all alters

female 50.02 50.17 co-member 0.29 0.26 partner 6.49 6.46 neighbor 2.91 3.06 parents 6.32 7.00 friends 43.40 42.38 siblings 11.55 10.69 close kin 28.07 27.23 children 10.19 9.55 knows < 3 yrs. 3.63 4.11 other kin 11.88 13.36 knows 3-6 yrs. 12.71 12.21 co-worker 4.84 5.01 knows 7+ yrs. 82.39 82.44 avg. alter age 38.91 38.86

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Data

The 2004 study (Faculty of Social Sciences)

a convenience sample of 170 persons (34 students of the Social Network Analysis course – each student interviewed 4 additional persons, controlled to some degree by age and gender).

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Question Wording - 2004

6 month limitation

usual discussion partners

t

Female 61.9 54.5 1.984* Partner 15.4 14.7 0.283 Parents 14.3 11.0 1.278 Siblings 7.6 9.5 -0.838 Children 10.0 13.8 -1.150 Other kin 6.4 2.7 2.004* Co-workers 8.4 4.8 1.438 Co-members 4.6 4.5 0.065 Neighbors 2.3 2.8 -0.350 Friends 30.0 35.4 -1.160 Close kin 31.9 34.4 -0.635 Knows < 3 yrs. 8.8 8.3 0.191 Knows 3-6 yrs. 15.7 12.5 1.014 Knows 7+ yrs. 75.5 79.2 -0.882 Alter age 39.6 36.8 1.569

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The Burt name generator

It seems the tested methodological factors do not have a major effect on the composition of discussion networks – why?:

- small networks (10% or less larger than 5);

- stable over time; important, close alters;

- 6 month is a large time limit.

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Other types of support

Differences:

- name generator vs. role ralationship approach;

- hypothetical (1987) vs. usual providers (2002):

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Support in the case of an illness

1987: Suppose you had the flu and you had to stay in bed for a few days and needed help around the home, with shopping and such.

Who would you turn to first for help? Who would you turn to second? 2002: Suppose you become seriously ill or you are

generally very weak and cannot leave home, for instance to do the shopping or fetch medicine in the pharmacy. Who are the people you usually ask for this kind of help?

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Financial support

1987: Suppose you needed to borrow a large sum of money.

Who would you turn to first for help? Who would you turn to second? 2002: Suppose you would find yourself in a

situation, when you would need a larger sum of money, but not have it yourself at the moment, for instance five average monthly wages (approximately 500.000 tolars). Whom would you ask to lend you the money (a person, not an institution, e.g. a bank)?

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Other types of support - 2004

No significant differences found for: financial support, support in the case of sadness/depression and advice.

Significant differences found for: material support and support in the case of an illness (second provider) and discussing problems with partner (both providers)

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Role Relationship

The explanation of differences:1. Different types of support are provided by

different persons (varying in the degree of closeness, importance, intensity...);

2. Difference between the first and the second provider;

3. Troubles with partner – put to respondents who had/had not a partner at the time.

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Role Relationship

- some types of support provisions (e.g., financial support, support in the case of depression, advice) are provided by strong ties and those are few are named regardless of hypothetical/actual support question wording;

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Role Relationship

- differences for the second provider (e.g., illness):

1. There is more than one support provider respondents vary their answers depending on the last few occassions (e.g., partner, friend);

2. Respondents are “cognitive misers”, who search for the first satisfying, rather than optimal answer (hypothetical wording may be stimulating satisficing, where support providers are interchangeable);

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Role Relationship

- differences for both providers (e.g., troubles with partner): people who do not have a partner, take the question “lightly” and give a more satisficing answer in the hypothetical wording; respondents with partner may not turn to satisficing as frequently; when actual support is evaluated, different response categories may be used, depending on the actual situations.

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Conclusions

1. For more accurate, detailed information on composition and structure of the support network, better use the name generator approach (however, it is more costly and time consuming).

2. The Burt name generator seems relatively insensitive to the tested differences in wording (6 month time limit; limitation on the number of alters; actual/usual support).

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Conclusions

3. Role relationship seems to be sensitive to wording (usual/hypothetical) – with support types, where the number of support providers is large and they are interchangeable.

4. However, this approach is cheaper, less time consuming and easier to administer.

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Role Relationship - 2004

Support dimension Partner Parents Child Siblings Friend Support in the case of an illness

First provider 46% 29% 15% 6% 3% Second provider (usual) 16% 34% 35% 10% 6%

Second provider (hypothetical)

1% 35% 28% 16% 20%

Financial support First provider 27% 47% 10% 10% 7%

Second provider 12% 39% 14% 12% 24%

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Role Relationship - 2004

Support dimension Partner Parents Child Siblings Friend Material support

First provider 42% 24% 14% 14% 6% Second provider (usual) 14% 32% 33% 14% 7%

Second provider (hypothetical)

3% 35% 22% 12% 29%

Talk to in the case of sadness/depression

First provider 39% 8% 11% 4% 38% Second provider 10% 18% 18% 11% 43%

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Role Relationship - 2004Support dimension Partner Parents Child Siblings Friend Discussing problems with partner

First provider (usual) 23% 4% 20% 14% 39% First provider (hypothetical)

7% 11% 11% 13% 58%

Second provider (usual) 0% 26% 21% 12% 41% Second provider

(hypothetical) 5% 12% 12% 12% 59%

Asking for advice at a major life change

First provider 53% 19% 7% 6% 15% Second provider 4% 27% 28% 9% 32%

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Role Relationship

Illness 1987 Partner 52% Parents 23% Child 14% 2002 Partner 41% Child 18% Parents 14%

Financial support 1987 Parents 39% Partner 21% Child 14% 2002 Friend 26% Parents 23% Siblings 14%