Social network map: Some further refinements on administration

Social network mapping techniques have been advanced as a means of assessing social and environmental resources. The self-report nature of social network data poses problems in determining validity and reliability. This article addresses the issue of convergent construct validity, that is, the correlations among dimensions of perceived social support as measured by social network data with other standardized social support instruments. Findings confirm that structural measures alone yield little information about the experience of social support. The interpretation of social network data may be improved by the addition of measures of perceived social support. The reported frequency of use and satisfaction with different types of support are better indicators of social support than structural features alone. Implications are drawn for social network mapping techniques.