Ego Network Analysis — Personal Network Analysis

Ego network analysis examines the personal network of a focal individual — the ego — by mapping their direct contacts (alters) and the ties those contacts share with one another. Formalised through Ronald Burt's structural holes framework (1992) and Marsden's egocentric measurement approach (2002), the method produces ego-level indicators such as network size, density, constraint, and brokerage role that reveal how each individual's social position shapes their access to information, resources, and influence.