Generating social network data — Lessons learned from field research in Ghana's petroleum sector

Practitioners and researchers studying Natural Resource Governance (NRG) increasingly pay attention to Social Network Analysis (SNA). Recent research shows that social networks can be an important determinant when conflicting interests deteriorate natural resource dilemmas. Although SNA research nowadays provides various theoretical concepts, statistical programs and sophisticated modeling opportunities, there is surprisingly little literature on how to (not) generate an own set of SNA data. Thus, the main objective of this paper is to provide insights in the extraction of valued, reciprocal SNA ties by means of a semi-structured questionnaire. The data were gained among actors in the petroleum sector in Ghana. The paper will further discuss major challenges during the data gathering process and resulting implications for future research.