The Effects of Multiplexity of Support Providers and Strong Ties

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The Effects of Multiplexity of Support Providers
and Strong Ties Visualization on Viewers
Perception of Personal Networks

• Isidro Maya Jariego
• Daniel Holgado
• Esperanza Vergara
• Universidad de Sevilla (España)

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• Visualization is a powerful tool for exploring
  network data and communicating their properties.
• But it is important to understand how viewers
  perceive graphical representations.

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• In this paper we explore the reactions and
  interpretations of respondents when they
  visualize their own personal networks...
• ...and compare two different ways of representing
  personal networks...

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Strong ties vs. Multiplexity of support providers
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• We analyse the personal networks of university
  students that commute almost every day between
  Alcalá and Sevilla
• to analyse the changes in structure and
  composition associated with this ecological
  transition.

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Method

• We interviewed 208 university students, obtaining
  information on their personal networks.
• We elaborated 3 graphic representations of each
  network (624 representations).
• And finally, 6 months after the first interview,
  the graphs were shown to the respondents (n
  173),
• To examine their reactions in a qualitative
  interview and
• To compare two ways of representing the personal
  network.

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Method /1. Personal networks

• The Arizona Social Support Interview Schedule was
  applied to analyse the core of support providers
  (six types of social support).
• Then we ask the respondent to complete the list
  of people until 25 alteri.
• Finally, we proceed with the pair tie evaluations
  (25 x 25), obtaining also information on the
  type of relationship, place of residence and
  usual way of communication of each alteri.

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Method /2. Graphical representation

• Three dimensions were used to represent the
  personal networks
• Composition blue nodes are from Alcalá, red
  nodes from Sevilla and black nodes from other
  places...
• Multiplexity of the providers the size of the
  node represent the number of types of support
  according to ASSIS.
• Strength of the relationship 0, they dont know
  each other 1 they know each other 2 they
  know very well each other.

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Type 1. Strong ties representation
Composition with level 2 in strength of
relationship
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Type 2. Multiplexity of support providers
representation
Composition and number of types of support by
each node
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Method /3. The interview

• Both types of graphics were presented to each
  respondent (altering the order of presentation in
  half of the sample).
• During the interview the students were asked (a)
  to describe, (b) to divide in groups, (c) to
  detect key actors and (d) to inform of errors in
  each graphic.

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Method /3. The interview

• And finally they were informed of the different
  ways of constructing both graphics...
• ...before of comparing both types in a list of
  characteristics aesthetic, novelty, utility,
  etc.

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Results reactions, interpretations... And
comparison between two types of representation
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Results /1. Reactions and interpretations

• General impression of validity of the personal
  networks description. And few errors...
• Respondents describe their personal networks in
  concentric circles, from center to periphery.

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Results /1. Reactions and interpretations

• The Strong ties representation induces a
  description based in groups and social spaces...
• The representation of the multiplexity of support
  providers induces a description based in groups
  of different levels of importance.

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Results /2. Comparison of two types of
representation (n 170)
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Personal networks visual representation

• It seems that social support is a more salient
  characteristic in the perception of the
  respondents than the structural properties of the
  personal network.
• But the visualization of strong ties is a way to
  facilitate the identification of clear groups in
  the personal network of the respondent.

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Laboratorio de Redes Personales y
Comunidades Universidad de Sevilla isidromj_at_us.es