Survey Methods for Estimating the Size of Weak-Tie Personal Networks

Researchers increasingly use aggregate relational data to learn about the size and distribution of survey respondents’ weak-tie personal networks. Aggregate are collected by asking questions connectedness many different groups (e.g., “How teachers do you know?”). This approach can be powerful, but data, researchers must locate external information each group from a census or administrative records number in population). need for makes difficult impossible collect settings. Here, authors show that relatively simple modifications overcome this significantly increasing flexibility method weakening key assumptions required associated estimators. The idea is estimate these sample respondents, rather than relying on sources information. These methods appropriate using study network connections. They also used as part scale-up hidden populations. illustrate with two empirical studies: large simulation original household Hanoi, Vietnam.