meetreferenties

Meetreferenties, also referred to as "mijlpalen" or "milestones", are a type of network structure used in anthropology and social network analysis. It involves a systematic way of collecting and representing information about cross-links between pairs of actors in a social system.

The main usage of meetreferenties is in the qualitative analysis of social relationships and networks. It was introduced by Dutch anthropologist Tom A. van Tulder as a method to study networks and flows in societies through which assistance and support are provided.

Meetreferenties are often documented and presented in a table, known as the meetreferentietabel. Each cell in this table represents a pair of actors that have met, referred or cooperated with one another at least once. The information collected includes the time and occasion of the meeting, the type of cooperation, and other relevant data.

While meetreferenties are a practical way to organize and analyze social relationships, some critics point out its limitations in representing complex or indirect connections. Further, the information gathered from meetreferenties relies on the participants' or informants' recollections, which can be prone to errors or biases.

In spite of these potential drawbacks, meetreferenties have been widely used in various fields, including anthropology, sociology, and business. Researchers have employed this method to study friendship networks, organizational behavior, and community dynamics. The technique offers insights into how social connections are formed, maintained, and transformed over time, making it a valuable tool in the study of social phenomena.