Presentation given at the 8th Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries International Conference, May 25th, London UK

1. 1
From Personal to Groups: Using
EgoWeb to Map the Change in
Librarian Research Networks
From Personal to Groups: Using
EgoWeb to Map the Change in
Librarian Research Networks
David Kennedy
– RAND Corporation
Marie R. Kennedy & Kristine R. Brancolini
– Loyola Marymount University, USA
David Kennedy
– RAND Corporation
Marie R. Kennedy & Kristine R. Brancolini
– Loyola Marymount University, USA
Presentation given at the 8th Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries
International Conference, May 25th, London UK

2. 2
Abstract
This presentation discusses methods for collecting, processing, analyzing and
visualizing social networks using the software EgoWeb. EgoWeb is freely available,
open source, web-based software that facilitates the collection of social network data
through interviews. These interviews involve participants listing network contacts,
responding to questions about each of the contacts, and evaluating the ties among
contacts. This provides raw data for personal network analysis. Personal network data
can also be aggregated to represent the extended networks of a group of people who
share common network ties. The presentation will discuss considerations for each of
these steps including how to use EgoWeb to best collect and process these data.
The methods and software will be illustrated with a project analyzing the personal
networks of novice librarian researcher participants of the first and second years of
the Institute for Research Design in Librarianship (IRDL). IRDL is designed to provide
instruction in how to conduct a research project and establish a peer-network of like-
minded librarians to support each other throughout the research process. The IRDL
program is using personal network collected with EgoWeb to evaluate the impact of
the institute on participants’ research networks. The presentation will illustrate the
value, as well as challenges, of combining the personal networks of participants to
assess how the research networks of IRDL participants form and evolve over time.
This presentation discusses methods for collecting, processing, analyzing and
visualizing social networks using the software EgoWeb. EgoWeb is freely available,
open source, web-based software that facilitates the collection of social network data
through interviews. These interviews involve participants listing network contacts,
responding to questions about each of the contacts, and evaluating the ties among
contacts. This provides raw data for personal network analysis. Personal network data
can also be aggregated to represent the extended networks of a group of people who
share common network ties. The presentation will discuss considerations for each of
these steps including how to use EgoWeb to best collect and process these data.
The methods and software will be illustrated with a project analyzing the personal
networks of novice librarian researcher participants of the first and second years of
the Institute for Research Design in Librarianship (IRDL). IRDL is designed to provide
instruction in how to conduct a research project and establish a peer-network of like-
minded librarians to support each other throughout the research process. The IRDL
program is using personal network collected with EgoWeb to evaluate the impact of
the institute on participants’ research networks. The presentation will illustrate the
value, as well as challenges, of combining the personal networks of participants to
assess how the research networks of IRDL participants form and evolve over time.

3. 3
Agenda
•Brief overview of IRDL - Institute for Research Design in
Librarianship
– Objectives related to social networks
•Personal Ego-centric network data collection
– EgoWeb 2.0
•Combination of personal networks into group network
•Personal and Group networks for IRDL scholars, cohort 1
•Brief overview of IRDL - Institute for Research Design in
Librarianship
– Objectives related to social networks
•Personal Ego-centric network data collection
– EgoWeb 2.0
•Combination of personal networks into group network
•Personal and Group networks for IRDL scholars, cohort 1

4. 4
Institute for Research Design in Librarianship
IMLS Laura Bush
21st Century Librarian
Program, 2013-2016
(RE-06-13-0060-13)
To create a learning
experience and support
network for academic
and research librarians.
IMLS Laura Bush
21st Century Librarian
Program, 2013-2016
(RE-06-13-0060-13)
To create a learning
experience and support
network for academic
and research librarians.

5. 5
IRDL Summer Workshop
25 Cohort 1 Scholars, 2014

6. 6
• Mastery experience
• Social persuasion
• Mastery experience
• Social persuasion
Albert Bandura, Self Efficacy
Albert Bandura, "Perceived Self-Efficacy in Cognitive
Development and Functioning,” Educational Psychologist
28, no.2 (1993): 117-48.

7. 7
How does the
personal network of
a novice librarian researcher
evolve on their path to becoming
a more advanced researcher?
How does the
personal network of
a novice librarian researcher
evolve on their path to becoming
a more advanced researcher?
Primary Research Question

8. 8
Extended Research Questions
• Is there a wider network of librarian
researchers impacted by IRDL?
• Or are there just 25 separate networks?
• Are changes in the network sustained
after institute has concluded?
• Is there a wider network of librarian
researchers impacted by IRDL?
• Or are there just 25 separate networks?
• Are changes in the network sustained
after institute has concluded?

9. 9
EgoWeb and Ego-centric network data
collection

10. 10
Ego-centric Networks and Mainstream Social Science
Mainstream
Social
Science
Network
Analysis
Ego-centric
Networks
Surveys
Independently sampled
respondents
Networks are important
Traditional Network
designs are unfamiliar and
impractical
Ego-centric data
combines elements of
both
Halgin & DeJordy 2008
http://www.analytictech.com/e-net/pdwhandout.pdf

11. 11
Brief Overview: EgoCentric Data
•EgoCentric / Personal Networks
– Each person (“ego”) is the center of their own network
• Each ego identifies who is in their network (“alters”)
• Who these people are and how they are connected to
each other is based solely on respondents’ cognitions
about the network
•EgoCentric / Personal Networks
– Each person (“ego”) is the center of their own network
• Each ego identifies who is in their network (“alters”)
• Who these people are and how they are connected to
each other is based solely on respondents’ cognitions
about the network

12. 12
Brief Overview: EgoCentric Data
•EgoCentric / Personal Networks
– Each person (“ego”) is the center of their own network
• Each ego identifies who is in their network (“alters”)
• Who these people are and how they are connected to
each other is based solely on respondents’ cognitions
about the network
•EgoCentric / Personal Networks
– Each person (“ego”) is the center of their own network
• Each ego identifies who is in their network (“alters”)
• Who these people are and how they are connected to
each other is based solely on respondents’ cognitions
about the network

13. 13
Typical Survey DataTypical Survey Data
V1 V2 V3 V4
R1 1 3.4 A High
R2 0 5.0 A Low
R3 1 7.3 C Low
R4 1 8.2 B High
R5 1 5.2 A Low
.. … … .. …
Rn 0 6.1 C Medium
Challenge of Collecting EgoCentric Data

14. 14
Network Interview Data – EgoNetwork Interview Data – Ego
Alter V2 V3 V4
R1 1 1 1 1
R1 2 1 1 0
R1 3 0 1 1
R1 4 1 1 0
R2 1 0 0 1
R2 2 0 0 0
R2 3 0 0 1
R2 4 1 0 0
.. .. .. .. ..
Rn N 1 0 1
Network Interview Data – AltersNetwork Interview Data – Alters
V1 V2 V3 V4
R1 1 3.4 A High
R2 0 5.0 A Low
R3 1 7.3 B Low
R4 1 8.2 B High
R5 1 5.2 A Low
.. … … .. …
Rn 0 6.1 C Medium
Challenge of Collecting EgoCentric Data

15. 15
Network Interview Data – EgoNetwork Interview Data – Ego
Alter V2 V3 V4
R1 1 1 1 1
R1 2 1 1 0
R1 3 0 1 1
R1 4 1 1 0
R2 1 0 0 1
R2 2 0 0 0
R2 3 0 0 1
R2 4 1 0 0
.. .. .. .. ..
Rn N 1 0 1
Network Interview Data – AltersNetwork Interview Data – Alters
V1 V2 V3 V4
R1 1 3.4 A High
R2 0 5.0 A Low
R3 1 7.3 B Low
R4 1 8.2 B High
R5 1 5.2 A Low
.. … … .. …
Rn 0 6.1 C Medium
Challenge of Collecting EgoCentric Data

16. 16
Network Interview Data – EgoNetwork Interview Data – Ego
Alter V2 V3 V4
R1 1 1 1 1
R1 2 1 1 0
R1 3 0 1 1
R1 4 1 1 0
R2 1 0 0 1
R2 2 0 0 0
R2 3 0 0 1
R2 4 1 0 0
.. .. .. .. ..
Rn n 1 0 1
Network Interview Data – AltersNetwork Interview Data – Alters
V1 V2 V3 V4
R1 1 3.4 A High
R2 0 5.0 A Low
R3 1 7.3 B Low
R4 1 8.2 B High
R5 1 5.2 A Low
.. … … .. …
Rn 0 6.1 C Medium
Challenge of Collecting EgoCentric Data

17. 17
Network Interview Data – Alter pair data for one respondentNetwork Interview Data – Alter pair data for one respondent
Alter 1 2 3 4 … n
1 - 1 1 0 1
2 1 - 0 0 0
3 1 0 - 1 0
4 0 0 1 - 0
…
n 1 0 0 0 -
Challenge of Collecting EgoCentric Data

18. 18
Network Interview Data – All data for one respondentNetwork Interview Data – All data for one respondent
V1 V2 V3 V4
R1 1 3.4 A High
Alter V2 V3 V4
R1 1 3.4 A High
R1 2 5.0 A Low
R1 3 7.3 B Low
R1 4 8.2 B High
R1 5 5.2 A Low
Alter 1 2 3 4 5
1 - 1 1 0 1
2 1 - 0 0 0
3 1 1 - 1 0
4 0 0 0 - 0
5 0 1 1 1 -
AlterAlter NetworkNetwork
Challenge of Collecting EgoCentric Data
EgoEgo

19. 19
Network Interview Data – Alter pair data for six respondentsNetwork Interview Data – Alter pair data for six respondents
Alter 1 2 3 4 5
1 - 1 1 0 1
2 1 - 0 0 0
3 1 1 - 1 0
4 0 0 0 - 0
5 0 1 1 1 -
Alter 1 2 3 4 5
1 - 1 1 0 1
2 1 - 0 0 0
3 1 1 - 1 0
4 0 0 0 - 0
5 0 1 1 1 -
Alter 1 2 3 4 5
1 - 1 1 0 1
2 1 - 0 0 0
3 1 1 - 1 0
4 0 0 0 - 0
5 0 1 1 1 -
Alter 1 2 3 4 5
1 - 1 1 0 1
2 1 - 0 0 0
3 1 1 - 1 0
4 0 0 0 - 0
5 0 1 1 1 -
Challenge of Collecting EgoCentric Data
Alter 1 2 3 4 5
1 - 1 1 0 1
2 1 - 0 0 0
3 1 1 - 1 0
4 0 0 0 - 0
5 0 1 1 1 -
Alter 1 2 3 4 5
1 - 1 1 0 1
2 1 - 0 0 0
3 1 1 - 1 0
4 0 0 0 - 0
5 0 1 1 1 -

20. 20
Software tools customized for Ego-Centric Data
Collection are Key
•Reduce data collection burden
– High respondent, interviewer, and programming
burden
•EgoWeb 2.0 – the goal is to reduce data collection and
processing burden
– Enable non-network researchers and non-
programmers to collect and analyze social network
data
•Reduce data collection burden
– High respondent, interviewer, and programming
burden
•EgoWeb 2.0 – the goal is to reduce data collection and
processing burden
– Enable non-network researchers and non-
programmers to collect and analyze social network
data

21. 21
EgoWeb 2.0 User Interface

22. 22
EgoWeb 2.0: Network elicitation for IRDL
scholars
“Please identify up to
40 people to whom
you go to get or give
advice/help related to
research.”

23. 23
EgoWeb 2.0: Network composition for IRDL
scholars

24. 24
EgoWeb 2.0: Network structure for IRDL
scholars

25. 25
Adjust
display
settings
Print
Network
EgoWeb 2.0: Network visualization

26. 26
IRDL Scholar Personal Network Data

27. 27
One IRDL Scholar Personal Networks
Over 4 Waves of Data Collection
Kennedy, MR, DP Kennedy, KR Brancolini (2017)
The evolution of the personal networks of novice
librarian researchers. Portal.

28. 28
Combining personal Networks into one,
whole group network

29. 29
Combining Personal Networks =
Group Cognitive Network

30. 30
• Identify unique alters across all respondents
• Combine into one network
• Identify unique alters across all respondents
• Combine into one network
Alter 1 2 3 4 … n
1 - 1 1 0 … 0
2 1 - 0 0 … 0
3 1 1 - 1 … 1
4 0 0 0 - … 1
… … … … … - …
n 0 0 1 1 1 -
Challenge of Combining Personal Networks into
One Whole Network

31. 31
Combining Personal Networks =
Group Cognitive Network

32. 32
Evolution of the IRDL Whole Cognitive
Network

33. 33
Whole Network, Time 1
IRDL
Scholars
IRDL staff
Alters

34. 34
Whole Network with research relationships (red),
Time 1
IRDL
Scholars
IRDL staff
Alters

35. 35
Whole Network, Time 2
IRDL
Scholars
IRDL staff
Alters

36. 36
Whole Network with research relationships (red),
Time 2
IRDL
Scholars
IRDL staff
Alters

37. 37
Whole Network, Time 3
IRDL
Scholars
IRDL staff
Alters

38. 38
Whole Network with research relationships (red),
Time 3
IRDL
Scholars
IRDL staff
Alters

39. 39
Whole Network, Time 4
IRDL
Scholars
IRDL staff
Alters

40. 40
Whole Network with research relationships (red),
Time 4
IRDL
Scholars
IRDL staff
Alters

41. 41
Combining Personal Networks =
Group Cognitive Network

42. 42
Egoweb 2.0 Resources
•Downloading
– https://github.com/qualintitative/egoweb
•Documentation
– egoweb.info
– www.rand.org/methods/egoweb
•Questions and Discussion
– Yammer: www.yammer.com/egoweb,
– Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/egoweb2.0
– Twitter: @egoweb2_0
– egoweb@rand.org, davidk@rand.org
•Downloading
– https://github.com/qualintitative/egoweb
•Documentation
– egoweb.info
– www.rand.org/methods/egoweb
•Questions and Discussion
– Yammer: www.yammer.com/egoweb,
– Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/egoweb2.0
– Twitter: @egoweb2_0
– egoweb@rand.org, davidk@rand.org