Karma Yöntem Araştırmalarında Graph Teori ve Sosyal Ağ Analizinin İşlevselleştirilmesi: Bir Döngüsel Entegrasyon Modeli

Öz

Graph teorisi, iletişim kalıplarını incelemede sosyal ağ analizine (SNA) kavramsal bir temel sunmaktadır. Bu çerçevede SNA’nın uygulanması, ağ içindeki önemli bileşenlerin belirlenmesine ve bağlantı biçimlerinin ölçülmesine imkân vermektedir. Mevcut alanyazın incelendiğinde, araştırmacıların, ağ yapılarını tanımlamada çoğunlukla niceliksel bir duruş benimsediği görülmektedir. Bu çalışma, niceliksel ve niteliksel yaklaşımları ortak bir zeminde birleştiren karma yöntemli sosyal ağ analizinin (MMSNA) potansiyelini teorik yorumlayıcı bir perspektifte incelemektedir. Ayrıca, bu çalışma ağ yapılarındaki ilişkilerin keşfini mümkün kılacak metodolojilerin geliştirilmesi ve bütünleştirilmesine dair temel bir teorik argüman sunmaktadır. Bununla birlikte, karma yöntemli araştırma tasarımlarının sosyal ilişkileri analitik biçimde yapılandırma kapasitesi tartışılmaktadır. Bu doğrultuda, MMSNA literatürünü haritalamak amacıyla sistematik bir kavramsal derleme tasarımı benimsenmiştir. Web of Science ve Scopus veri tabanlarında Eylül 2025 itibarıyla yürütülen taramalardan elde edilen 733 kayıt, R programlama dili kullanılarak birleştirilmiş ve yinelenen yayınlar çıkarılmıştır. Nihai olarak, konuyla doğrudan ilişkili 200 uluslararası akademik yayın inceleme kapsamına alınmıştır. Bu inceleme sonucunda, söz konusu boşluğu gidermek amacıyla metodolojik ve epistemolojik düzeyleri bütünleştiren özgün ve iki katmanlı bir kavramsal model önerilmektedir. İlk olarak, Döngüsel Entegrasyon Modeli, entegrasyonu yalnızca sonuç aşamasına bırakmayarak tasarım, veri toplama, analiz ve yorumlama süreçlerinin tamamında sürekli bir mekanizma olarak işletmektedir. İkinci olarak, Köprü Kurucu ve Ağ Örücü Modeli, araştırmacının entegrasyon sürecindeki yansıtıcı rolünü vurgulamakta; niceliksel “ne” ve niteliksel “nasıl/neden” soruları arasında bağlantılar kurmaktadır. Sonuç olarak çalışma, SNA’da kullanılan nicel, nitel ve karma yöntem yaklaşımlarına dair metodolojik yönelimleri ve entegrasyon tartışmalarını görünür kılarak, önerilen iki katmanlı modele kavramsal bir zemin sunmaktadır. Karma yöntemlerin çatısı altında nicel ve nitel yaklaşımların birleşimi, SNA araştırmalarında daha yorumlanabilir ve geçerli sonuçlar üretmekte; sosyal ilişki yapılarının incelenmesinde MMSNA’nın işlevselleştirilmesi ise alana vazgeçilmez bir katkı sağlamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Graf Teori
• Sosyal Ağ Analizi
• Karma Yöntemli Sosyal Ağ Analizi
• Döngüsel Entegrasyon Modeli
• Köprü Kurucu ve Ağ Örücü Model

Operationalizing Graph Theory and Social Network Analysis in Mixed Methods Research: A Cyclical Integration Model

Öz

Graph theory provides a conceptual foundation for social network analysis (SNA) in examining communication patterns. Within this framework, the application of SNA makes it possible to identify key components within the network and measure the types of connections. A review of the existing literature shows that researchers have predominantly adopted a quantitative stance in defining network structures. This study examines the potential of mixed-methods social network analysis (MMSNA), which combines quantitative and qualitative approaches within a common framework, from a theoretical-interpretive perspective. In addition, this study presents a fundamental theoretical argument for the development and integration of methodologies that enable the discovery of relationships within network structures. Furthermore, it discusses the capacity of mixed-method research designs to analytically structure social relations. To this end, a systematic conceptual review design was adopted to map the MMSNA literature. Searches conducted in the Web of Science and Scopus databases as of September 2025 yielded 733 records, which were merged using the R programming language and duplicates removed. Ultimately, 200 international academic publications directly related to the subject were included in the review. As a result of this analysis, an original two-layered conceptual model that integrates methodological and epistemological dimensions is proposed to address the identified gap. First, the Cyclical Integration Model operates integration not only at the final stage but also continuously throughout the design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation processes. Second, the Bridge-Builder and Network-Weaver Model emphasizes the researcher’s reflective role in the integration process, establishing connections between quantitative “what” questions and qualitative “how/why” questions. In conclusion, the study makes visible the methodological orientations and integration debates in SNA, providing a conceptual basis for the proposed two-layered model. The combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches under mixed-methods research produces more interpretable and valid results in SNA studies, and the operationalization of MMSNA makes an indispensable contribution to the examination of social relationship structures.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Graph Theory
• Social Network Analysis
• Mixed Methods Social Network Analysis
• Cyclical Integration
• Bridge-Builder and Network-Weaver Model

Kaynakça

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