Beyond the dyadic perspective: 10 Reasons for using social network analysis in intergroup contact research

Abstract

This article presents 10 reasons why social network analysis, a novel but still surprisingly underused approach in social psychology, can advance the analysis of intergroup contact. Although intergroup contact has been shown to improve intergroup relations, conventional methods leave some questions unanswered regarding the underlying social mechanisms that facilitate social cohesion between different groups in increasingly diverse societies. We will therefore explain the largely unknown conceptual and methodological advantages of social network analysis for studying intergroup contact in naturally existing groups, which are likely to help contact researchers to gain a better understanding of intergroup relations and guide attempts to overcome segregation, prejudice, discrimination, and intergroup conflict.

Towards a socially situated rumouring: Historical and critical perspectives of rumour transmission

“…Therefore, SNA‐based rumour research can investigate and formalise large‐scale information diffusion among several social entities (e.g., individuals, social groups), but the precise content of interpersonal communication exchanges and the related transformations of the information remain inaccessible via social network methods. Thus, according to some scholars, SNA “should not replace well‐established methods in this field, but rather be considered a helpful, additional technique” (Wölfer & Hewstone, 2017, p. 616).…”

“…Despite the aforementioned limitations, the classic paradigm of serial reproduction (Allport & Postman, 1947) consequently remains a relevant experimental tool for the study of information transmission and associated transformations within a laboratory setting, as it offers the possibility of a thorough analysis of the content of interpersonal communication processes. Furthermore, SNA is hardly applicable (see Wölfer & Hewstone, 2017) to the recurrent and unanswered research questions of why and how rumour content varies by social group (e.g., DiFonzo & Bordia, 2007c; Pelletier, 2016).…”

Integrating Northern Ireland: Cross‐group friendships in integrated and mixed schools

“…Further, whereas traditional self‐report methods only allow for the examination of unidirectional friendship claims, social network analysis allows researchers to examine whether friendships are reciprocated. For the study of cross‐group friendships this provides a more accurate and less biased assessment of individuals’ intra‐ and intergroup relationships (for a general introduction to SNA, see Wölfer et al ., ; for a contact‐specific overview, see Wölfer & Hewstone, ).…”

Methodological problems in research on the diffusion of management practices

“…One of the main variables that describes a triad is transitivity, i.e. the possibility that two actors, connected to a third common actor, form a connection (Ripley, Snijders, Boda, Vörös, & Preciado, 2014;Wölfer & Hewstone, 2017). This effect is commonly explained with the phrase "a friend of my friend is also my friend", conveying the idea of homophily, which implies influence from indirect peers (Lazarsfeld, P., Berelson, B., & Gaudet, H. 1944).…”