Some insights related to social network analysis data collection challenges – a research note. Issue 5 (3rd September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Contandriopoulos, Damien; Sapeha, Halina; Larouche, Catherine
• Is Part Of: International journal of social research methodology. Volume 22:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: 463
• Page End: 468
• Publication Date: 2019-09-03
• Subjects: Social network analysis -- online survey -- snowball sampling -- sample size -- unbounded network; Sociology -- Research -- Periodicals; 300.72
• DOI: 10.1080/13645579.2019.1574957
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-5579

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This research note discusses opportunities and challenges of using online survey engines for social network analysis (SNA) data collection and assessing sample size and representativeness. The discussion is based on a case study of SNA data collection for a pilot research on health-relevant policy networks in Canada. Our approach demonstrates how to use generic online survey tools in long-term snowball sampling campaigns and how to compute population size estimates through capture–mark–recapture formulas, thus solving a significant methodological challenge of collecting snowball data for unbounded networks.