Researchers

Mike Savage, University of Manchester
John Scott, University of Essex
Alan Warde, University of Manchester
Gindo Tampubolon, Research Associate

1 April 2003 to 30 September 2005

Context

Social network analysis offers distinctive ways of understanding social relations but has been relatively neglected in the UK compared to the US and Europe.

Aims and Objectives

• Show the value of network approaches in a study of the determinants of consumption;
• Review UK and international data sets to assess how network methods can be deployed;
• Consider how network methods can be used alongside existing surveys;
• Develop network software;
• Develop a short training course on network methods.

Methodological aspects

We will be able to use our pooled expertise to take stock and promote network approaches more widely within UK social science.

Research Design

We will be analysing network data collected by Savage and Warde as part of an earlier ESRC funded project, as well as using surveys such as the BHPS to exploit their potential for network analysis.

We will be using both ego centred analysis and whole network approaches, and seeking to develop ways of encouraging dialogue between these two approaches.

Outputs

Software supplements to enable network methods to be used alongside common packages Journal articles showing how network methods can be used to address the study of consumption.