Social Network Mapping
Social network mapping is a structured way to assess a client's personal social network by listing the people in it, organizing them by life domain, and rating each relationship for the kind and direction of support it provides, its closeness, and how often and how long contact occurs. Developed for social-work practice by Elizabeth Tracy and James Whittaker as the Social Network Map and accompanying grid, it turns the often-vague question of who is in a client's life and what they offer into a visual and tabular assessment that guides support-focused intervention.
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Sources
- Tracy, E. M., & Whittaker, J. K. (1990). The Social Network Map: Assessing social support in clinical practice. Families in Society, 71(8), 461–470. DOI: 10.1177/104438949007100802 ↗
- Tracy, E. M., & Abell, N. (1994). Social network map: Some further refinements on administration. Social Work Research, 18(1), 56–60. DOI: 10.1093/swr/18.1.56 ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 22). Social Network Mapping in Social Work Practice. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/social-work/social-network-mapping-sw
Which method?
Set this method beside its closest kin and read them side by side — the library lays the books on the table; the choice is yours.
- Asset-Based Community DevelopmentSocial Work↔ compare
- Ecomap AnalysisSocial Work↔ compare
- Genogram AnalysisSocial Work↔ compare
- Social Support AssessmentSocial Work↔ compare