Social Network Size

Title

Social Convoy Circles (CONVOY)

Studies

PMBC, PCS3

Copyright Information

Not a copyrighted scale

Primary Reference

Antonucci, T. C., & Akiyama, H. (1987). Social networks in adult life and a preliminary examination of the convoy model. Journal of Gerontology, 42, 519-527.

Purpose

To determine the size of participants’ social networks, defined as people with whom the participant has contact at least once a month.

Description

Respondents are presented with a diagram of three concentric circles and the following set of instructions regarding members of their social network with whom they are in contact at least once a month:  Using first name and last initial, place these people in the figure below. People who are in the innermost circle are those who are close and important to you, and without whom life would be difficult to imagine. The remaining two circles are for people who are successively less close.  Respondents are asked to list no more than 20 network members.

Scaling

N/A

Number of Items

4

Psychometrics

Not available

Scoring

Total Convoy Count: total number of individuals listed in the diagram

Circles 1, 2, and 3:  total number of individuals listed in each respective circle

Variables

Total Convoy Count

Inner Circle Count

Middle Circle Count

Outer Circle Count