Methods Workshops: Social Networks
Date: Thursday 30 November 2006, 2-4pm
Location: Harold Hankins Building, University of Manchester (Directions).
Workshop Content
This workshop is part of a series on the practice and experience of social science research. The aim is to stimulate debate and to share experiences of methodological issues in researching a range of social science issues. Sessions will explore how different ways of seeing and conceptualising research questions and topics lead to distinctive methodological possibilities and challenges.
Each workshop starts with short and relatively informal presentations from people who have approached the same broad research concern in different ways, followed by discussion and debate.
This methods workshop follows a half-day seminar on Friendship and Acquaintanceship organised by the Morgan Centre. More details about the full day's programme.
Speakers
Professor Nick Crossley, School of Social Sciences, University of
Manchester:
'Researching networks and social capital in a private health club'
Nick will discuss the issues raised by an attempt to
study social capital and processes of network formation, ethnographically,
in the context of a private health club in the Greater Manchester area. His
study attempts to combine quantitative and qualitative approaches to social
research.
More information about Nick's research
Dr Bridgette Wessels, Dept of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield
Bridgette will discuss qualitative approaches in researching the complexity
of networks drawing on a comparative European study of coping strategies in
situations of exclusion and from studies of the development of online networks.
She draws on the concept of performance and ethnography in exploring networks.
She will talk about: finding networks; multiple positions and identities of
the researcher within the field of networks; exploring the social relations
of networks; time and space in networks; centre and periphery; chronology;
and trust and confidentiality in networked research relations.
More information about Bridgette's research
