Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: This paper surveys some of the mechanisms that have been proposed by the experimental literature to elicit social networks. These mechanisms differ in their incentive structures, as well as the means of reward they employ. We compare these elicitation devices on the basis of the estimated differences in the characteristics of the induced networks, such as the number of (mutual) links, correspondence and accuracy. Our main conclusion is that the elicited network architecture is itself dependent on the structure (and the nature) of the incentives. This, in turn, provides the social scientist with guidelines on the most appropriate device to use, depending on her research objectives.
Language: English
Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Award: G4619012125
OpenAlex ID: W2593665415