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Human-Computer Interaction: The Agency Perspective pp 389–407Cite as

New Opportunities in Personal Network Data Collection

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Part of the book series: Studies in Computational Intelligence ((SCI,volume 396))

Abstract

One of the central challenges of ego-centric or personal social network research is the quantity and quality of data that is required from research participants. In general, collecting data about increasingly larger ego-centric networks places an increasing burden on respondents. However, the recent development and increasing ubiquity of web applications that rely on social graphs present interesting new opportunities and challenges for data collection efforts. This chapter addresses this emerging context for social research, and reports the results of an experimental evaluation of an online computer-assisted self interview (CASI) survey tool called PASN (Propitious Aggregation of Social Networks). Personal networks acquired via the PASN tool were found to be larger and more diverse than those produced using standard survey methods, yet required significantly lower time investments from participants. The implications of new methods such as PASN for social network research are discussed, along with considerations and recommendations for future research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Elon University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

    Derek Lackaff

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  1. Derek Lackaff
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  1. UAlg Informatics Lab, University of Algarve , Campus de Gambelas, 8000-062, Faro, Portugal

    Marielba Zacarias  & José Valente de Oliveira  & 

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Lackaff, D. (2012). New Opportunities in Personal Network Data Collection. In: Zacarias, M., de Oliveira, J.V. (eds) Human-Computer Interaction: The Agency Perspective. Studies in Computational Intelligence, vol 396. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-25691-2_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-25691-2_17

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