Analysis of egocentric networks with R (II). An egocentric network

Objective/Aim: We describe best practices for modeling egocentric networks and health outcomes using a five-step guide. Background: Social network analysis (SNA) is common in social science fields and has more recently been used to study health-related topics including obesity, violence, substance use, health organizational behavior, and healthcare utilization. SNA, alone or in conjunction with spatial analysis, can be used to uniquely evaluate the impact of the physical or built environment on health. The environment can shape the presence, quality, and function of social relationships with spatial and network processes interacting to affect health outcomes. While there are some common measures frequently used in modeling the impact of social networks on health outcomes, there is no standard approach to social network modeling in health research, which impacts rigor and reproducibility. Methods: We provide an overview of social network concepts and terminology focused on egocentric network data. Egocentric, or personal networks, take the perspective of an individual who identifies their own connections (alters) and also the relationships between alters. Results: We describe best practices for modeling egocentric networks and health outcomes according to the following five-step guide: (1) model selection, (2) social network exposure variable and selection considerations, (3) covariate selection related to sociodemographic and health characteristics, (4) covariate selection related to social network characteristics, and (5) analytic considerations. We also present an example of SNA. Conclusions: SNA provides a powerful repertoire of techniques to examine how relationships impact attitudes, experiences, and behaviors—and subsequently health.

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The role of egocentric networks in achieving resilience: a case study from the apparel sector

International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management ◽

10.1108/ijpdlm-09-2017-0289 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 48 (7) ◽

pp. 682-697 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jyotirmoyee Bhattacharjya

Keyword(s):

Supply Network ◽

Financial Health ◽

Multiple Perspectives ◽

Egocentric Networks ◽

Content Type ◽

Study Approach ◽

Egocentric Network ◽

The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the egocentric network-based strategies used by upstream firms to ensure their own resilience when the disruptions originate with downstream partners. Design/methodology/approach The paper adopts a case study approach as this is well-suited to the investigation of a complex phenomenon from multiple perspectives. Findings The study finds that the egocentric networks of upstream firms participating in the supply network of a retailer could ensure their own resilience even after the sudden demise of the downstream entity. Originality/value The study addresses the lack of adequate empirical research examining resilience from the perspectives of multiple entities in a supply network. It is also one of the few papers to address resilience from the perspective of upstream players in the context of a disruption originating with downstream partners. The findings suggest that the lack of visibility in relation to the financial health of more powerful downstream partners could be problematic from a supplier’s perspective. It identifies well-developed egocentric networks as being essential for minimizing consequences of limited downstream visibility and the impact on social capital.

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The Size and Heterogeneity of Egocentric Networks and Social Integration in Hungary

East European Politics and Societies and Cultures ◽

10.1177/0888325417747970 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 845-865

Author(s):

Márton Gerő ◽

Gábor Hajdu

Keyword(s):

Social Integration ◽

Public Participation ◽

Strong Ties ◽

Egocentric Networks ◽

Network Characteristics ◽

Self Evaluation ◽

Egocentric Network ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Internal Side ◽

Objective Indicators

In this study, we examine the relationship between objective and subjective dimensions of social integration and the size and heterogeneity of an egocentric network using nationally representative databases from Hungary. We measure social integration with the level of trust and the level of public participation (objective dimension) and with individuals’ self-evaluation of whether they are integrated (subjective dimension). Our results show that while the size and heterogeneity of the egocentric network are positively associated, the proportion of relatives among strong ties correlates negatively with objective indicators of social integration. The heterogeneity of weak ties is related positively to public participation. The correlation between the size and composition of egocentric networks and subjective integration is less clear: The proportion of relatives among strong ties seems to be unrelated to the external side of perceived social integration, while it is associated positively with the internal side of subjective integration. The number of strong ties seems to be positively correlated with both sides of subjective integration. These results suggest that higher levels of social integration cannot be achieved without concentrating on more than one of the network’s dimensions. They also underline the need to pay more attention to network characteristics and social support not only regarding perceived social integration but also regarding objective indicators of social integration.

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Determinants of Knowledge Transfer in Egocentric Networks. Comparative Analysis of Professions

WSEAS TRANSACTIONS ON BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS ◽

10.37394/23207.2022.19.5 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 19 ◽

pp. 40-53

Author(s):

Marzena Fryczyńska

Keyword(s):

Information Technology ◽

Knowledge Management ◽

Comparative Analysis ◽

Knowledge Transfer ◽

Regression Models ◽

Knowledge Work ◽

Knowledge Networks ◽

It Professionals ◽

Egocentric Networks ◽

Egocentric Network

This paper investigates determinants of knowledge transfer in egocentric networks of knowledge recipient and knowledge provider, what is crucial to knowledge management in organisations. Knowledge transfer is assumed to depend on knowledge work, networking competence, and the subject’s profession: teacher, Information Technology (IT) professional, or physician. The paper reports result of a quantitative study among samples of mentioned professionalists. Regression models testing, including mediation and moderation, were performed. The findings indicate that knowledge transfer in the egocentric network of the knowledge recipient increases along with knowledge work, but only when it is mediated by networking competence. Analyses in each profession support a partial mediation in the case of IT professionals and teachers. Knowledge transfer in egocentric network of the knowledge provider increases along with knowledge work of the provider. In the case of physicians, knowledge transfer in the providers’ and recipients’ knowledge networks is affected neither by knowledge work nor by networking competence.

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Mode and Interviewer Effects in Egocentric Network Research

Field Methods ◽

10.1177/1525822x19861321 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 195-213 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Claude S. Fischer ◽

Lindsay Bayham

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Quality Data ◽

Web Surveys ◽

Egocentric Networks ◽

Face To Face ◽

Interviewer Effects ◽

Audio Recordings ◽

Egocentric Network ◽

To Receive ◽

The Web

Surveys of egocentric networks are especially vulnerable to methods effects. This study combines a true experiment—random assignment of respondents to receive essentially identical questions from either an in-person interviewer or an online survey—with audio recordings of the in-person interviews. We asked over 850 respondents from a general population several different name-eliciting questions. Face-to-face interviews yielded more cooperation and higher-quality data but fewer names than did the web surveys. Exploring several explanations, we determine that interviewer differences account for the mode difference: Interviewers who consistently prompted respondents elicited as many alters as did the web survey and substantially more than did less active interviewers. Although both methods effects substantially influenced the volume of alters listed, they did not substantially modify associations of other variables with volume.

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Collecting egocentric network data with visual tools: A comparative study

Network Science ◽

10.1017/nws.2020.4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 223-250

Author(s):

Betina Hollstein ◽

Tom Töpfer ◽

Jürgen Pfeffer

Keyword(s):

Network Data ◽

Thinking Aloud ◽

Egocentric Networks ◽

Visual Tool ◽

Data Collection Process ◽

Egocentric Network ◽

Data Validity ◽

Concentric Circles ◽

The Impact

AbstractWhen collecting egocentric network data, visual representations of networks can function as a cognitive aid for depicting relationships, helping to maintain an overview of the relationships, and keeping the attention of the interviewees. Additionally, network maps can serve as a narration generator in qualitative and in mixed-methods studies. While varying visual instruments are used for collecting egocentric network data, little is known about differences among visual tools concerning the influence on the resulting network data, the usability for interviewees, and data validity. The article provides an overview of existing visually oriented tools that are used to collect egocentric networks and discusses their functions, advantages, and limitations. Then, we present results of an experimental study where we compare four different visual tools with regard to networks elicited, manageability, and the impact of follow-up questions. In order to assess the manageability of the four tools, we used the thinking aloud method. The results provide evidence that the decision in favor of a specific visual tool (structured vs. unstructured) can affect the size and composition of the elicited networks. Follow-up questions greatly affect the elicited networks and follow-up cues can level out differences among tools. Respondents tend to prefer the concentric circles tool, with some differences in preferences and manageability of tools between participants with low and those with high socioeconomic status. Finally, assets and drawbacks of the four instruments are discussed with regard to data quality and crucial aspects of the data collection process when using visual tools.

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An Egocentric Network Contact Tracing Experiment: Testing Different Procedures to Elicit Contacts and Places

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041466 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1466

Author(s):

Andrew Pilny ◽

C. Joseph Huber

Keyword(s):

Social Network ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Effect Size ◽

Survey Methods ◽

Contact Tracing ◽

Medium Effect ◽

Physiological Variables ◽

Medium Effect Size ◽

Egocentric Network ◽

Survey Instruments

Contact tracing is one of the oldest social network health interventions used to reduce the diffusion of various infectious diseases. However, some infectious diseases like COVID-19 amass at such a great scope that traditional methods of conducting contact tracing (e.g., face-to-face interviews) remain difficult to implement, pointing to the need to develop reliable and valid survey approaches. The purpose of this research is to test the effectiveness of three different egocentric survey methods for extracting contact tracing data: (1) a baseline approach, (2) a retrieval cue approach, and (3) a context-based approach. A sample of 397 college students were randomized into one condition each. They were prompted to anonymously provide contacts and populated places visited from the past four days depending on what condition they were given. After controlling for various demographic, social identity, psychological, and physiological variables, participants in the context-based condition were significantly more likely to recall more contacts (medium effect size) and places (large effect size) than the other two conditions. Theoretically, the research supports suggestions by field theory that assume network recall can be significantly improved by activating relevant activity foci. Practically, the research contributes to the development of innovative social network data collection methods for contract tracing survey instruments.

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Correlates of Medical Mistrust Among Minority Women at Risk for HIV and Their Networks

Health Education & Behavior ◽

10.1177/1090198120986783 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 109019812098678

Author(s):

Laura M. Johnson ◽

Harold D. Green ◽

Brandon Koch ◽

Robert Harding ◽

Jamila K. Stockman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Black Women ◽

Hiv Prevention ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Medical Mistrust ◽

Individual Level ◽

Prevention And Treatment ◽

Egocentric Network ◽

History Of ◽

Sex With Men

Background Medical mistrust is a barrier to engaging in HIV prevention and treatment, including testing and adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Research often focuses on how race and experiences of discrimination relate to medical mistrust, overlooking the role that other characteristics may play (e.g., history of physical abuse, diagnosis of mental illness). Furthermore, studies are often restricted to samples of men who have sex with men and findings may not generalize to other at-risk groups. Aims The current study explores a range of demographic, cognitive, behavioral, and social network correlates of medical mistrust. Method This study employed an egocentric network design among a racially diverse sample of at-risk women and women in their social networks ( n = 165). Results Results from multivariable linear regressions stratified by race (Black vs. others) indicate that medical mistrust is associated with both individual-level and network-level characteristics. Across both groups, age and experiences of racial discrimination were associated with higher medical mistrust. Having a regular sex partner and having a higher proportion of network members who are family was significantly associated with medical mistrust among non-Black women. Discussion Individual-level and network-level variables were significantly associated with medical mistrust. Therefore, interventions that attempt to mitigate medical mistrust as a barrier to HIV prevention and treatment should consider how mistrust may be related to characteristics of individuals and broader contexts. Conclusion Health interventions may benefit from conceiving of medical mistrust as a complex, rational response to cumulative discriminatory life experiences and a reflection of the networks within which individuals are embedded.

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