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We have created some courseware that allows people to make manual issue network maps. It includes a step-by-step method, a gazetteer worksheet and also some shapes and coloured pencils (optional). In order to do this more quickly, you should download and install the netlocator software, located here.
The gazetteer
worksheet is a downloadable pdf, below.

PDF

Issue Network Mapping Method

I. ISSUE NETWORK LOCATION, 5 STEPS USING THE NETLOCATOR SOFTWARE: FIRST SURF AN ISSUE BY USING A SEARCH ENGINE, BY VISITING URLS IN A DEDICATED DISCUSSION LIST, BY LOOKING UP THE URLS OF LEADING ACTORS MENTIONED IN A NEWSPAPER OR MAGAZINE ARTICLE ABOUT THE ISSUE, BY VISITING INTUITIVELY OBVIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR ISSUE DEDICATED PAGES. FAMILIARISE YOURSELF WITH LEADING PARTIES BY CROSS-CHECKING LINK LISTS :

1. SELECT UP TO 8 STARTING POINTS

The 'starting points' should be the link list pages of those organizations that cover the issue most authoritatively and most broadly.

2. LOCATE NETWORK (one iteration)

Insert your starting points in the netlocator. Use the setting 'hit & count'. The netlocator will find co-linked organizations.

Outcome: Candidate players or network actors. Save this list!

3. REVIEW CANDIDATE PLAYERS

Which of the candidates discuss the issue? (Use local search engine.) If the candidate player doesn't treat the issue, the actor is out!
Should they be mere reporters or archivists or portalists, throw them out!

4. SELECT NETWORK ACTORS

Once network actors are selected (the unsuitable candidates have been thrown out), you find interlinking between. One way to do that is to enter the actor twice into the netlocator, and check for their outward links. You also can do this manually.

Compare their outward links with the other network parties, and see if they link to other network actors (and to which ones).

5. DOCUMENT THE NETWORK

Goal: Save and preserve the fruits of the process.

II. CARTOGRAPHER'S LOG

1. CONSIDERATIONS OF STARTING POINTS

Discuss process by which you have arrived at starting points.

2. CONSIDERATIONS OF CANDIDATE PLAYERS

Why have you thrown out or kept in particular actors? (tricky reasons) Here you gain first impressions of your actors. Save telling impressions.

3. MAP INTERLINKINGS IN THE FORM OF A MATRIX

PLAYER 1 PLAYER 2 PLAYER 3
PLAYER 1
x
x
PLAYER 2
x
PLAYER 3
x


n.b. No self-linking! No self-citation!


4. CONSIDERATIONS OF THE NETWORK

Note who's in, who's out (expectations versus reality of the network composition) Note linking patterns (e.g., by type) Note type of actors (local, international/local, 'unholy alliance' of gov and com, etc)

Note type of network (knowledge, debate, issue, summit, scandal)

-pacifying network (wholesale agreement, reducible to community-style?)

-subissue network

-polarised network

-depressing network (de-issue-ing, unpolarising)

Note deviations from standard network type?

In which:

- org's link heavily (producing relevance)

- gov's link among themselves but not to the outside (relying on assured relevance)

- com's don't link and don't discuss (playing "dead")


Note levels of segregation: do the pro's and con's live in seperate networks

5. CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE CRAWLER/CRAWLING

tricky questions the cartographer runs into could very well be the same tricky questions the network crawler may run into. save these!



III. Composing the Gazetteer

gazetteer is an annotated map (long after you done away with tourism, and exchanged it for travel, you may rediscover the formulas of tourism)

online gazetteer:
gazetteer \Gaz`et*teer"\, n. [Cf. F. gazetier.] a geographical dictionary, a book giving the names and descriptions, etc., of many places.

in the gazetteer you bring together:
- your matrix-turned-map
-
the findings and keepings from your log

1. EDIT THE CARTOGRAPHER'S LOG

In your log you highlight those findings that are relevant to the matrix-soon-to-be-turned-into-map

2. DECIDE ON MAPPING BRIEF

on the basis of your log and matrix, you decide on a classification of actors, and on a network type. This, together with your matrix, forms your brief for network visualisation.


3. WRITE STORYLINES

On the basis of log and the mapping brief, you write a series of story-lines that highlight particularly interesting features of the network (including normative consequences). At this point graphics and quotations taken from the network are inserted in the gazetteer.






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