Networked Participants, Networked Meanings

Using Networks to Visualize Ethnographic Data

Bibliographic Data

ID6169833
AuthorsKenneth R Hanson (0000-0001-5665-0852, University of Wyoming, corresponding author), Nicholas Theis (0000-0002-8927-7668, University of Oregon)
Year2023
Volume54
Issue1
Pages142-156
Publication date2023-09-07
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociological Methodology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0081-1750 • E-ISSN: 1467-9531
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00811750231195338
OpenAlexW4386497709
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited37

Researchers can use data visualization techniques to explore, analyze, and present data in new ways. Although quantitative data are visualized most often, recent innovations have brought attention to the potential benefits of visualizing qualitative data. In this article, the authors demonstrate one way researchers can use networks to analyze and present ethnographic interview data. The authors suggest that because many respondents know one another in ethnographic research, networks are a useful tool for analyzing the implications of respondents’ familiarity with one another. Moreover, respondents often share familiar cultural references that can be visualized. The authors show how visualizing respondents’ ties in conjunction with their shared cultural references sheds light on the different systems of meaning that respondents within a field site use to make sense of the social phenomena under investigation

Data collection · Data science · Data visualization · Ethnography · Field (mathematics · Knowledge management · Meaning (existential · Qualitative property · Social science · Sociology · Visualization · Artificial Intelligence · Computational and Text Analysis Methods · Computer Science · Focus Groups and Qualitative Methods · Psychology · Social Media and Politics

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Open DOIOpen Access