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Title Does the Online Collection of Ego-Centered Network Data reduce Data Quality? An Experimental Comparison
Source Social Networks, 32, 2, pp. 105-111
Year 2010
Database ScienceDirect
Access date 16.09.2009
Abstract

We analyze whether differences in kind and quality of egocentered network data are related to whether the data are collected online or offline. We report the results of two studies. In the first study respondents could choose between filling out egocentered data through a web questionnaire and being probed about their network in a personalized interview. The second study used a design in which respondents were allocated at random to either online or offline data collection. Our results show that the data quality suffers from the online data collection and the findings indicate that this is the consequence of the respondents answering “mechanically”. We conclude that network researchers should avoid to simply copy traditional network items into a web questionnaire. More research is needed about how new design elements specific for web questionnaires can motivate respondents to fill out network questions properly.

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Year of publication2010
Bibliographic typeJournal article
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