On behalf of Benjamin Schulz

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Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen,

Dear colleagues,



die sechste Konferenz der European Survey Research Association wird vom 13. bis 17. Juli 2015 in Reykjavik (Island) stattfinden. Kerstin Hoenig (LIfBi, Bamberg), Reinhard Pollak (WZB, Berlin) und ich organisieren dort gemeinsam die Session "Measuring Social Networks in Large-Scale Surveys: Challenges and Practice of Ego-Centred and Complete Network Approaches". Anbei unser entsprechender Call for Papers (Deadline: 15. Januar 2015), der vielleicht auch für Sie/euch interessant ist. Wir würden uns außerdem freuen, wenn Sie/ihr den Call an potentiell interessierte Kolleg/innen weiterleiten.



The 6th Conference of the European Survey Research Association (ESRA) will take place 13th-17th July 2015 in Reykjavik, Iceland. Kerstin Hoenig (LIfBi, Bamberg), Reinhard Pollak (WZB, Berlin) and I will host a session entitled 'Measuring Social Networks in Large-Scale Surveys: Challenges and Practice of Ego-Centred and Complete Network Approaches'. Please find attached our joint call for papers (Deadline: 15 January 2015), which might be of interest for you. Please feel free to further distribute it.



Vielen Dank & viele Grüße / With kind regards,

Benjamin (Schulz)





Call for Papers: Measuring Social Networks in Large-Scale Surveys: Challenges and Practice of Ego-Centred and Complete Network Approaches

Session at the 6th Conference of the European Survey Research Association (ESRA), 13th to 17th July 2015 in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Organizers:      Benjamin Schulz, Kerstin Hoenig, and Reinhard Pollak.

Survey researchers measure social networks in two fundamental ways: i) in an ego-centred manner that captures an actor’s ties and related characteristics, ii) in a broader way that captures complete networks within predefined boundaries. The latter approach gains increasing attention as recent projects in many countries and fields collect complete network data.

This increase largely follows from advances in survey instruments for complete networks and in statistical modelling, especially for network dynamics. Methodologically, complete network analysis makes it possible to separate selection and influence processes. These surveys, however, are mainly conducted in schools as meaningful network boundaries are easy to implement in this context.

Ego-centred measures offer the chance to collect network data in contexts where a complete network measurement is not feasible. To meet the challenge of reversed causality and endogeneity as a consequence of the non-random, often homophilous, formation of social ties, panel data including repeated, or prospective and retrospective, measures are promising. Several international large-scale surveys made significant progress in this domain.

We invite researchers from both camps to submit papers to promote a discussion that allows for a better evaluation of the advantages and pitfalls of each approach. Topics might include:



•         Novel approaches in the measurement and modelling of social networks and network dynamics



•         Means to identify causal network effects through survey design or statistical modelling



•         Ways to assess the reliability and validity of network measures



•         Strategies for the specification of network boundaries



•         Studies on how to identify and deal with compositional changes.



To submit a paper abstract, visit the conference website at http://www.europeansurveyresearch.org/conference and follow the instructions. Please do not forget to select this session from the list of sessions provided in the submission form. You may submit a maximum of two papers on which you are enlisted as presenting author. The closing date for submission of paper proposals is 15 January 2015.



Until 29 January 2015, corresponding authors will be informed whether or not their paper has been accepted for presentation in the session.

Authors of selected papers will be invited to give an oral presentation of their paper. Presentations must be given in English and should not exceed 15 minutes to leave ample time for discussion. To strengthen the quality of both on-site discussion and feedback full papers should be submitted by 15 June 2015 at the latest.