This article explores the development of my PhD dissertation’s methodological approach, based on Social Network Analysis (SNA), or the collection and analysis of network data, in order to deal with political parties and their members (party membership). I extensively relied on this alternative, growing methodological background in three extents. First (1), SNA was used to analyze bibliographic references related to my dissertation topic, i.e. party membership studies, and identify the most central authors, thereby illustrating the literature review while describing their key contributions. Second (2), SNA was employed to collect and analyze network data likely to better grasp how interpersonal networks affect the probability for a random citizen to turn into party member, assuming that social influence matters in the process of joining a political party. Third (3), I further capitalized on SNA to deal with the question of party activism and why some members become active whereas others remain passive, arguing theoretically and showing empirically that part of the answer lies in members’ position within their local party branch’s social network. Each of these three applications is discussed in the light of the main methodological developments, the empirical findings and their interpretation, while shortcomings and research opportunities are more systematically highlighted at the end.

本文探讨了基于社会网络分析（SNA）或网络数据收集和分析的博士学位论文方法论方法的发展，以便与政党及其成员（政党成员）打交道。我在三个方面广泛依赖于这种替代的，不断发展的方法论背景。首先（1），使用SNA分析与我的论文主题相关的书目参考，即党员资格研究，并确定最核心的作者，从而在描述文献综述的同时说明他们的主要贡献。第二（2），使用SNA收集和分析网络数据，以便更好地了解人际网络如何影响随机公民成为党员的可能性，假设社会影响力在加入政党的过程中至关重要。第三（3），我进一步利用SNA来处理党的激进主义问题，以及为什么有些成员变得活跃而另一些成员保持消极，从理论上争论并凭经验表明，部分答案在于成员在其当地党支部社会中的地位。网络。将根据主要的方法学发展，经验发现及其解释来讨论这三个应用程序中的每一个，同时最后将更系统地突出缺点和研究机会。从理论上争论并凭经验证明，部分答案在于成员在其当地党支部的社交网络中的位置。将根据主要的方法学发展，经验发现及其解释来讨论这三个应用程序中的每一个，同时最后将更系统地突出缺点和研究机会。从理论上争论并凭经验证明，部分答案在于成员在其当地党支部的社交网络中的位置。将根据主要的方法学发展，经验发现及其解释来讨论这三个应用程序中的每一个，同时最后将更系统地突出缺点和研究机会。