Network analysis

Abstract

Structures of interest, influence and power in communication policy are shifting due to increasing digitization, economization and globalization. Against this background it is necessary to reflect more than before upon methods to study the relations between actors and their potential influences on regulation processes. The article explains qualitative network analysis as a research strategy for communication policy research and discusses qualitative interviews and network cards as research tools to put network analysis into practice. The theoretical basis consists of governance and network theory. The article focuses on an analysis of the German youth protection system, which provides practical insight into a qualitative network study.