In some cases , the context map is a drawing of the physical or geographic setting in with observations are made. In fact, we suggested in chapter 9 that each session of field observations might begin by drawing a map of the setting. The map might be a drawing of a room, building, street, or neighborhood; it might include physical objecs, entrances and exits, the location of people or groups, and whatever else is relevant to understanding the social interaction described in the narrative. In other cases, the context map describes the social setting: the individuals, statuses, roles, groups, or organizations that are relevant to the observations; it would also show connections and relasionships between these elements by the use of lines and arrows. Some forms of this are called sociograms or network analysis. Figure 16.3 give an example of what this might look like, showing the friendship choices made among a group of people. Network analysis may be the primary analytical approach used in a study, as was the case in a research project on the role that social networks play in the daily survival of homeless Latino and African-American men (Molina,2000). Another study, aimed at appraising care appropriateness in services to the elderly, used network analysis to delineate the support network of a rural black woman (Porter, Ganong and Armer, 2000)
A common strategy for developing a socuiogram is to conduct a sociometric interview with each member of a group. Each member is asked guestions, such as these:
Whom of your group would your like to always be beside you during classes (or work other relevant activity)?