Visualizing personal networks

Claudia AguilarUniversidad Autónoma de Barcelona

Bosnia..? Despues_de_la_lluvia Terminological dissatisfaction Hegemonic discourse Practice/Analytical Categories New approach to overcome these

categories

Identification Social-relational process Depends on context Diferenciate between auto-

identification and identification by others

PERSONAL NETWORKS

Previous research results Use of categories Discursive lines about the ontology

of such categories Relation between use of categories,

discourses and personal networks

Discourses-Identity-Network

Ethnicist Clash of

civilizations

Multiethnic

Cosmopolitan

Essentialist identity Excluding categories Homogeneous networks

Essentialist identity Excluding categories with

some nuance More heterogeneous

networks

Multiple identity No excluding categories Heterogeneous networks

Conclusions …

We have found a relation between the discourse sustained by a person and the categories she/he uses to classify people and to identify him/herself.

We have also found a relationship between the composition of personal networks (and therefore everyday life relationships) and the ethnic discourses that are maintained

Conclusions … (ii)

Finally we have found that Bosnians play an important role in the network of multiethnic relationships, in which strong ties, surprisingly, are still very important.

Current research: Main Goal

Analyse this identification complexity, understanding identification as a collective process in continuous negotiation through personal relationships in different contexts and situations.

Methodology Ethnographic work

Everyday life Interviews

Field notes

Discourse Analysis

Social Network Analysis Personal Networks

questionnaireEGONET

Personal Networks Analysis

EGONET: Personal Networks

Questions about EGO

45 known people

Questions about alters

Who knows who?

Vizualization and discussion