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Noting the ties after tying the knot: Photo-based elicitation of retrospective personal network data

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 October 2019

Alexandra Marin Open the ORCID record for Alexandra Marin [Opens in a new window]  and
Chang Lin
Alexandra Marin
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S2J4 (e-mails: alexandra.marin@utoronto.ca, chang.lin@mail.utoronto.ca)
Chang Lin
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S2J4 (e-mails: alexandra.marin@utoronto.ca, chang.lin@mail.utoronto.ca)
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Abstract

We report on an interview method using photo-based network elicitation and a landmark anchoring event to collect data on relationship change in ego networks retrospectively. Using the wedding albums of married or formerly married respondents, we populate a network from many years ago with persons pictured in the album and then collect data about each respondent’s relationship with each person at the time of the wedding and at the time of the interview. This data collection method mitigates many of the problems associated with retrospective data collection and does not have the logistical difficulties associated with panel studies. Our findings show that this method is successful in collecting significant numbers of connections that have undergone change, and especially reductions in activity along various dimensions.

Keywords

Brea L. PerryBernice A. PescosolidoMario L. SmallAnn McCranieegocentric networksnetwork changelongitudinal network datainactive tiesdormant tiesinterview methodsdata collectionphoto-based elicitationretrospective data collectiondimensions of tie activity
Type
Research Article
Information
Network Science , Volume 8 , Issue 2: Special Issue Ego Networks , June 2020 , pp. 251 - 270
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2019

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