<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_sjph-2016-0035_s_101_w2aab2b8b7b1b7b1aab1c15b1Aa"><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Research on social networks in public health focuses on how social structures and relationships influence health and health-related behaviour. While the sociocentric approach is used to study complete social networks, the egocentric approach is gaining popularity because of its focus on individuals, groups and communities.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2016-0035_s_102_w2aab2b8b7b1b7b1aab1c15b2Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>One of the participants of the healthy lifestyle health education workshop ‘I’m moving’, included in the study of social support for exercise was randomly selected. The participant was denoted as the ego and members of her/his social network as the alteri. Data were collected by personal interviews using a self-made questionnaire. Numerical methods and computer programmes for the analysis of social networks were used for the demonstration of analysis.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2016-0035_s_103_w2aab2b8b7b1b7b1aab1c15b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>The size, composition and structure of the egocentric social network were obtained by a numerical analysis. The analysis of composition included homophily and homogeneity. Moreover, the analysis of the structure included the degree of the egocentric network, the strength of the ego-alter ties and the average strength of ties. Visualisation of the network was performed by three freely available computer programmes, namely: Egonet.QF, E-net and Pajek. The computer programmes were described and compared by their usefulness.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2016-0035_s_104_w2aab2b8b7b1b7b1aab1c15b4Aa"><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Both numerical analysis and visualisation have their benefits. The decision what approach to use is depending on the purpose of the social network analysis. While the numerical analysis can be used in large-scale population-based studies, visualisation of personal networks can help health professionals at creating, performing and evaluation of preventive programmes, especially if focused on behaviour change.</p></sec></abstract>

IntroductionResearch on social networks in public health focuses on how social structures and relationships influence health and health-related behaviour. While the sociocentric approach is used to study complete social networks, the egocentric approach is gaining popularity because of its focus on individuals, groups and communities.MethodsOne of the participants of the healthy lifestyle health education workshop ‘I’m moving’, included in the study of social support for exercise was randomly selected. The participant was denoted as the ego and members of her/his social network as the alteri. Data were collected by personal interviews using a self-made questionnaire. Numerical methods and computer programmes for the analysis of social networks were used for the demonstration of analysis.ResultsThe size, composition and structure of the egocentric social network were obtained by a numerical analysis. The analysis of composition included homophily and homogeneity. Moreover, the analysis of the structure included the degree of the egocentric network, the strength of the ego-alter ties and the average strength of ties. Visualisation of the network was performed by three freely available computer programmes, namely: Egonet.QF, E-net and Pajek. The computer programmes were described and compared by their usefulness.ConclusionBoth numerical analysis and visualisation have their benefits. The decision what approach to use is depending on the purpose of the social network analysis. While the numerical analysis can be used in large-scale population-based studies, visualisation of personal networks can help health professionals at creating, performing and evaluation of preventive programmes, especially if focused on behaviour change.

A methodological approach to the analysis of egocentric social networks in public health research: a practical example

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health Centre, Zaloška 4, 1000 Ljubljana,

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Metodološki pristop k analizi egocentričnih socialnih omrežij pri raziskovanju v javnem zdravju: prikaz primera

IntroductionResearch on social networks in public health focuses on how social structures and relationships influence health and health-related behaviour....

Characteristics	Tools
Characteristics	Egonet.QF	E-net	Pajek
Availability	Free download	Free download	Free download
Preparation of input data	No preparation of specific file formats needed	Depending on the desired format, transformation into VNA file is needed.	First, the creation of a text file, then the transformation into the Pajek file.
Display of different strengths of ties	Different strengths can be demonstrated by using circles with different distances to the ego.	Strengths of ties are not shown in the network picture, but are displayed in a separate window.	Different strengths of ties are shown in the network picture by different sizes of the lines between the ego and alteri.
Display of different elements of ties	Different elements can be demonstrated by using different sectors in the network.	Elements of ties are not shown in the network picture, but are displayed in a separate window.	Different elements of ties are not shown in the network picture.
Export of the figure	Export as JPEG file	No export of figures	Export as JPEG file
Calculation of numerical measures	No	Homophily and homogeneity	No
Manual freely available on-line	Yes	Yes	Yes

A methodological approach to the analysis of egocentric social networks in public health research: a practical example

Article Category: Research article

Published Online: Jul 28, 2016

Page range: 256 - 263

Received: Apr 20, 2016

Accepted: Jun 01, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjph-2016-0035

Keywords
social network analysis, qualitative research, social environment, social support

© National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

The main characteristics of the demonstrated tools for the visualization of egocentric social networks.

A methodological approach to the analysis of egocentric social networks in public health research: a practical example

Article Category: Research article

Published Online: Jul 28, 2016

Page range: 256 - 263

Received: Apr 20, 2016

Accepted: Jun 01, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjph-2016-0035

Keywordssocial network analysis, qualitative research, social environment, social support

© National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

The main characteristics of the demonstrated tools for the visualization of egocentric social networks.

Keywords
social network analysis, qualitative research, social environment, social support