Accuracy, stability and reciprocity in informal conversational networks inrural Kenya

In this paper, we ask several questions about conversational networks. How accurately do respondents report the characteristics of their network partn ers? How stable are these networks over time? And if one participant in a c onversation reports it, does the other? The data come from a longitudinal s urvey of ego-centered conversational networks and reproductive behavior in small villages in rural Kenya. Because network partners were also interview ed in one of the four research sites, we are able to compare the respondent s' reports of their alters' behavior with these alters' self reports. We fi nd a strong relationship between the reported behavior of egos and their re ports of their alters' behavior, as others have done elsewhere. However, di screpancies between the respondents' reports of their network partners cont raceptive behavior and their network partners' self reports are substantial . Levels of network stability and reciprocity were also low. The discrepanc ies between the respondents' reports of their network partners and the part ners' own reports are primarily due to incorrect reporting by the responden ts, whereas the low levels of stability and reciprocity are related to the difficulties of measuring regular but diffuse social structures. Some of ou r results are specific to the context of rural Kenya, but other are more li kely to be generalizable. The influence of social networks on behavior may be strong or weak, but its measurement has systematic problems. (C) 2000 Pu blished by Elsevier Science B.V.