Comparing name generator designs in rural panel studies: analyzing alter retention and change

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Hâncean, Marian-Gabriel, Lerner, Jürgen, McCarty, Christopher
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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_version_ 1866913889580482560
author Hâncean, Marian-Gabriel
Lerner, Jürgen
McCarty, Christopher
author_facet Hâncean, Marian-Gabriel
Lerner, Jürgen
McCarty, Christopher
contents We conducted a two-wave personal network study in a rural Romanian community, interviewing the same participants (n = 68) using two name generators. Wave 1 employed a fixed-choice generator (n = 25) focused on emotional closeness; Wave 2 used a free-choice generator based on frequent interaction. We compared tie characteristics and assessed retention across waves. Alters who were kin, co-residents, or emotionally close were more likely to be retained, regardless of generator type. These findings underscore the role of relational attributes in personal network stability and highlight design considerations for network studies in resource-limited, culturally distinct settings.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_10136
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Comparing name generator designs in rural panel studies: analyzing alter retention and change
Hâncean, Marian-Gabriel
Lerner, Jürgen
McCarty, Christopher
Methodology
Social and Information Networks
Physics and Society
Applications
91D30
J.4; E.1; G.3
We conducted a two-wave personal network study in a rural Romanian community, interviewing the same participants (n = 68) using two name generators. Wave 1 employed a fixed-choice generator (n = 25) focused on emotional closeness; Wave 2 used a free-choice generator based on frequent interaction. We compared tie characteristics and assessed retention across waves. Alters who were kin, co-residents, or emotionally close were more likely to be retained, regardless of generator type. These findings underscore the role of relational attributes in personal network stability and highlight design considerations for network studies in resource-limited, culturally distinct settings.
title Comparing name generator designs in rural panel studies: analyzing alter retention and change
topic Methodology
Social and Information Networks
Physics and Society
Applications
91D30
J.4; E.1; G.3
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.10136