NETWORK ANALYSIS AND LAY INTERPRETATION - SOME ISSUES OF CONSENSUS AND REPRESENTATION

Two studies examined the use of network analysis to reveal lay interpr etations of loneliness. The first study demonstrated that there were n o important differences between results from a Likert-scale and binary -choice method, by using an index of disagreement to compare networks. The study also used inductive eliminative analysis to produce a netwo rk of the causes of loneliness that a majority of participants endorse d. The results suggest that a lay interpretation of loneliness places great emphasis on psychological states. In a second study, participant s were asked to rank the identified causes of loneliness. In this stud y causes of loneliness identified as being psychological states receiv ed the highest ranking. The results are compared and contrasted with t hose from an earlier study on lay perception of loneliness by Lunt (19 91). In particular it is suggested that the form of analysis used in t hat study may have resulted in an overly complex view of the lay inter pretation of loneliness.