Qualitative network analysis

In addition to a strictly “formalist” approach to data collection and analysis, social network analysis has, since its inception, used a qualitative methodological strategy, which involves conducting qualitatively oriented network research, as well as research using a mixed methods approach.

Qualitative methodological strategy in network analysis is the subject of study in Aryuna Kim’s dissertation research “Qualitative network analysis: theoretical and methodological foundations and analytical capabilities.” Qualitative network analysis is considered as an independent methodological approach aimed at perceiving relationships in a network. Network relationships are viewed through the prism of interpretivism and structuralism, which makes it possible to focus on the structural position in the network and the meanings in network interaction. The dissertation examines the practice of using qualitative methods in network research carried out in a mixed methods strategy. At the level of the research object, qualitative network analysis examines the personal networks of relationships of individuals, and also makes it possible to access hard-to-reach groups of respondents. At the level of the subject of research, qualitative methods in network research allow us to study network relationships and interaction contexts, describe and understand the content and context of the network, focus on the activities of actors and their strategies for building a network, and also identify the temporality of relationships.

Qualitative network analysis may be of interest to researchers planning empirical studies using social network analysis and qualitative methods in various fields of social sciences – sociology, political science, social psychology, media studies.

Publications:

• Kim A. Qualitative network analysis in the strategy of mixing methods in the social sciences: a systematic review of the literature // Sociology: methodology, methods, mathematical modeling. 2021. T. 2. No. 53. P. 83-116. doi
• Kim A. Methodological approach to the study of relationships in the network: qualitative network analysis // INTERaction. Interview. Interpretation. 2023. T. 15. No. 3. P. 11-30. doi
• Kim A., Maltseva D. Qualitative social network analysis: studying the field through the bibliographic approach // Quality and Quantity. 2024. No. 58. P. 385-411. doi