Qualitative social network analysis in practice: comparison of methods for network maps construction

Abstract

This article is devoted to the application of qualitative network analysis on the example of studying the social interactions of young parents in migration. A conceptual description of qualitative network analysis, network visualization features, design of qualitative network research, comparison of two approaches to building network maps and an example of their analysis are presented. Qualitative network analysis is aimed at studying relationships in the network and consists of interpretative and structural components, which are implemented through interviews and building a network map. The two approaches to building network maps differ in that in one case, network maps are built by the researcher based on an interview, and in the other case, the construction of the map is delegated to the informant himself. The first method is limited by the interview data and is their structural visualization. The second method of building a network map by the informant himself creates additional resources for interpretation – contrasting narratives and visual structuring of the informant's interactions.