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Ian:

The earliest empirical name generator work I'm aware of is Coleman and Katz's diffusion study:

Coleman, James, Elihu Katz, and Herbert Menzel. "The diffusion of an innovation among physicians." Sociometry 20, no. 4 (1957): 253-270.

Coleman talked more generally about it later:
Coleman, James S. "Relational analysis: the study of social organizations with survey methods." Human Organization 17, no. 4 (1958): 28-36.

Jim




On Tue, May 14, 2013 at 5:40 AM, Ian McCulloh <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
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Hi all,

I need to justify the use of a name generator as a valid social science instrument.  I understand this is an odd request.  Can you provide me a few foundational papers describing the technique and maybe a couple applied papers?  I am not familiar with the origins of the method.  I'm hoping to find the paper where name generators were first proposed and a paper or two in a highly regarded journal.  Thanks in advance for assistance.

Ian McCulloh, PhD

On May 14, 2013, at 5:54 AM, Martin Everett <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

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Hi all

I was recently asked the following and said I was not sure but would circulate. Please reply to Alberto Zanni [[log in to unmask]]

Thanks for you help

 

Our name generator (part of an online survey with 2,000+ respondents) produced an average of about 7 close contacts per respondents (including people living with the respondents) and we wonder whether there are any recent (or fairly recent) studies reporting the average size of personal networks in the UK to compare with. It appears that similar studies in other European have produced much larger personal networks and for this reason our survey has been criticised for not giving a precise account of personal networks in the UK.    

 

Our name generator question was: Please now consider the people (above 14 years of age) who are part of your social circle. In order to identify them, please consider those people who you have regular contact with, and/or who are the most important to you, and/or who you would want help to discuss personal matters, and/or who you can trust, and/or those you really enjoy socialising with.

 

Martin Everett

Mitchell Centre for Social Network Analysis 

School of Social Sciences

Arthur Lewis Building

University of Manchester

Bridgeford Street

Manchester M13 9PL

 

tel +44 (0)161 275 2515

 

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--
James Murphy
Ph.D. Student
Department of Sociology
The University of Chicago

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