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Eliciting real-life social networks: a guided tour

Author

Listed:
  • Pablo Branas-Garza

    (Department of Economics, Middlessex University London, UK)

  • Natalia Jimenez

    (Department of Economics, Middlessex University London, UK
    Department of Economics, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Spain)

  • Giovanni Ponti

    (Departamento de Fundamentos del Análisis Económico, Universidad de Alicante, Spain
    Department of Economics, University of Chicago, USA
    Dipartimento di Economia e Finanza, LUISS Guido Carli, Italia)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Pablo Branas-Garza & Natalia Jimenez & Giovanni Ponti, 2017. "Eliciting real-life social networks: a guided tour," Journal of Behavioral Economics for Policy, Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Economics (SABE), vol. 1(1), pages 33-39, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:beh:jbepv1:v:1:y:2017:i:1:p:33-39
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    social networks; economic experiments; coordination games;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C9 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments
    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • D85 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Network Formation

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