Beyond structural determinism

Advantages and Challenges of Qualitative Social Network Analysis for Studying Social Capital of Migrants

Bibliographic Data

ID4263050
AuthorsElena Sommer (Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy Amalienstr. 33 80799 Munich Germany, corresponding author), M Gamper (0000-0002-1110-6113, University of Cologne, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume21
Issue3
Pages608-625
Publication date2021-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGlobal Networks (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1470-2266 • E-ISSN: 1471-0374
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/glob.12302
OpenAlexW3088462219
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited47

In this article we address the challenges and advantages of studying social capital of migrant entrepreneurs, applying a mixed-method research design involving qualitative semi-structured interviews and standardized network map data collection. Despite some limitations discussed in the article, the study illustrates that an applied methodological approach has a potential to overcome some of the pitfalls of 'structural determinism' by looking both at structural and contextual aspects as well as actors' active role in accessing and (re)shaping their business-related networks across different geographic spaces. The article demonstrates that qualitative social network analysis is particularly valuable for emphasizing the role of human agency and temporal changes of social relations both in terms of network composition and network content as well as for exploring the meaning attached to social ties, potential access barriers to certain types of social capital and strategies to overcome these barriers

Data science · Determinism · Epistemology · Knowledge management · Political science · Public relations · Qualitative property · Qualitative research · Social capital · Social media · Social network analysis · Social science · Sociology · Structure and agency · Technological determinism · World Wide Web · Computer Science · Migration and Labor Dynamics · Migration, Ethnicity, and Economy · Social Capital and Networks