Methodological Approach to Study Relationships in Network: Qualitative Social Network Analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to substantiate qualitative network analysis as a separate methodological approach to the study of relationships in the network. In this paper, I define the theoretical framework of the network approach as a whole, then I give a theoretical basis for qualitative network analysis. I designate theoretical concepts related to the study of the deep meanings of relationships in the network. The place of qualitative network analysis in network approaches is determined, among which two approaches to the division of methodologies are distinguished: the division into quantitative and qualitative methods and the division into quantitative, ego-network and qualitative network analysis. Next, I propose a systematization of network approaches at different levels, where network analysis of structures at the macro level, network analysis of subgroups at the meso level and ego-network analysis are distinguished, which can be both in the design of quantitative and qualitative research. The definition of qualitative network analysis is given, the main tasks of this methodology and examples of empirical research are proposed.

Keywords

• qualitative social network analysis
• relationships
• network
• social network research
• methodological approaches