Sunbelt XXXI International Network for Social Network ... - INSNA

The Impact Of Different Non‐response Treatments On The Stability Of BlockmodelsNidarši, Anja; Ferligoj, Anuška; Doreian, PatrickAnalyzing Network Data / BlockmodelingMissing Data, Generalized Blockmodeling, Block Model Analysis, Non‐response, Measurement errorSAT.AM2Blockmodeling, in both its traditional and generalized versions, is a widely used set of methods for delineating the fundamental structure of social networks.Often, there are measurement errors in the network data that are analyzed by blockmodeling and other procedures. Blockmodeling, as a positional approach,may be especially vulnerable to the presence of measurement error. Yet, we do know much about this vulnerability. Here, we focus our attention onrespondent non‐response as a source of measurement error. There are data processing responses to treating this form of measurement error that include: thecomplete case approach, reconstruction of missing data and imputation methods. We examine the impacts of these data processing responses on blockmodelimages by comparing the block structures of ‘known’ networks and networks established from them by the introduction of various types of non‐responsepatterns. The comparisons are made by using two indices: the Adjusted Rand Index and the proportion of incorrectly identified block types. We start with somereal data sets to get a sense of the problem and move to simulated networks to obtain a more general set of comparisons. There are a variety of differentresults regarding the impacts on blockmodel images. While these depend on the specific treatments of non‐responses, the worst response is to do nothingabout the measurement error which, unfortunately, appears to be the default approach used most often when blockmodeling is attempted.The Impact Of Habitus On Network StructureHennig, Marina; Kohl, SteffenNetwork TheoryActor Network Theory, Ego‐centered Networks, Network StructureTHURS.AM2Our last presentation at INSNA XXX in 2010 focused on the relationship between the network analysis and Bourdieu's theory of habitus and social space. In thatcontext, the concept of habitus not only connects objective and subjective relations, but can also be seen as both, an expression of the social structure ofsociety and a precondition for the repetition of practices in network structures. Here, habitus as a deep structure is considered a cause for certain thoughts andactions, and also for interactions between people. The aforementioned theoretical concept was empirically examined by surveying a sample of 53 respondentsin Berlin, Germany, in 2010. Here, the habitus of the social milieu and the types of sociability of the respondents has been operationalized as elements ofhabitus, and put in relation to the ego‐centered networks of respondents. As a result, we can show that both factors have an impact on respondents networkstructures, the social milieu, and the types of sociability. The social milieus point to the position in social space as examined by Bourdieu. Types of sociability incomparison, appears to have its origin in the network structure itself. The aim with this talk is to present the empirical results from the aforementioned study.We will also show that the exchange of symbolic and of material goods on implies the different specifications of material and symbolic goods of the actors, andalso the differences of social relationships and infrastructure for this exchange.