Testing a procedure for measuring personal networks

Personal Network Analysis is a specific research sector of Social Network Analysis, which deserve particular research tools. This working paper copes with a technical challenge: testing a standard procedure for doing research on personal networks and detecting their core, through two standardized tools for gathering information on emotional and functional ties. The procedure is being tested on a typological-factorial panel, and gives significant results about personal networking and homophily. The main statistical and methodological tools for personal network analysis are presented, employed, and discussed.