An exploratory comparison of name generator content: Data from rural India

Abstract

Since the 1970s sociologists have explored the best means for measuring social networks, although few name generator analyses have used sociocentric data or data from developing countries, partly because sociocentric studies in developing countries have been scant. Here, we analyze 12 different name generators used in a sociocentric network study conducted in 75 villages in rural Karnataka, India. Having unusual sociocentric data from a non-Western context allowed us to extend previous name generator research through the unique analyses of network structural measures, an extensive consideration of homophily, and investigation of status difference between egos and alters. We found that domestic interaction questions generated networks that were highly clustered and highly centralized. Similarity between respondents and their nominated contacts was strongest for gender, caste, and religion. We also found that domestic interaction name generators yielded the most homogeneous ties, while advice questions yielded the most heterogeneous. Participants were generally more likely to nominate those of higher social status, although certain questions, such as who participants talk to uncovered more egalitarian relationships, while other name generators elicited the names of social contacts distinctly higher or lower in status than the respondent. Some questions also seemed to uncover networks that were specific to the cultural context, suggesting that network researchers should balance local relevance with global generalizability when choosing name generators.

Social network correlates of IPV acceptance in rural Honduras and rural Uganda

“…A “name generator” is a question asked of a respondent to elicit important social connections ( Shakya, Christakis et al, 2017 ). In both Uganda and Honduras, participants were asked a series of questions to elicit the names of important social connections along a variety of domains.…”

“…There may be multiple reference groups for any given behavior, and social network analysis can be used to at least partially identify those groups and the levels and directions of their influence. The ability of social network analysis to identify these groups, however, will depend upon the questions used to elicit the social networks, the utility of those questions in capturing the relevant relationships, and the scale of the network study ( Shakya et al, 2016 , Shakya et al, 2017 ).…”

Reference guide for data collection: Qualitative social network interviews

“…While the scientific study of networks has been ongoing for decades, network methods have become highly formalized in recent years due to mathematical developments and user-friendly software for visualizing and measuring social networks (Edwards 2010;Hollstein 2014). These methods have been used to generate innovative research on a wide range of health topics including HIV transmission through sexual networks (Morris 1997), substance abuse (Valente, Mouttapa, and Gallaher 2004), smoking (Alexander et al 1987;Bauman and Ennett 1994), contraceptive use (Valente et al 1997), child nutrition (Moestue et al 2007), risk factors for sexual violence against adolescent girls (Shakya et al 2017), obesity (Christakis and Fowler 2007), and vaccination (Brunson 2013). These studies provide an indepth understanding of how behaviors are distributed within a social (or sexual) network and offer insights on factors associated with behavior change.…”

“…Network surveys or interviews commonly ask respondents (egos) to name people with whom they have an interaction. These questions are called name generator questions (Shakya, Christakis, and Fowler 2017). The ties elicited by the name generator questions provide information on the composition and structure of the network.…”

“…Another approach is to ask participants qualifying questions about each individual they have named, for instance, how close they are, or how often they interact. However, the decision to ask multiple name generator questions or qualifying questions must be weighed against time and resources to collect such data, as well as the focus of the study (Shakya, Christakis, and Fowler 2017).…”