desktop 🠖 interface documentation
Name Generator using Forms
Type:
Name Generator
Creates:
Nodes of a single type
Uses Prompts:
true
Name Generators are one of the fundamental components of a network interview. They allow your participant to create alters, thereby describing one of the two main entities in your study's networks.
There are four name generator Interfaces in Network Canvas that can be added to your study, all of which can be configured within Architect.
Each of these Interfaces is designed for a specific type of alter elicitation, with several associated advantages and disadvantages. Although they have some configuration options that are shared with all other Network Canvas Interfaces, this article will focus on options specific to the main name generator interface, and a variant of it that uses a 'quick add' mode.
Shared Interface Elements
Both the "Name Generator (Using Forms)" and the "Name Generator (Quick Add)" Interfaces share some common visual elements.
The prompt area, where the task is explained to the participant (see: prompts), a node list area where alters that have been elicited are displayed, a primary action button that triggers the node elicitation process, and (optionally) one or more Side Panels.
Beyond this, you have a choice about how precisely alters should be created - either using a full featured form, or using a simple "quick add" method.
Side Panels
Both of these name generators can use Side Panels. Side panels are a powerful feature that allows you to use network data from either the in-progress interview or from a network data file uploaded to your Architect resource library to assist with name generation activities.
For example, when multiple prompts within a name generator have potential overlap in a participant's social network, it may be useful to bring nodes previously nominated onto a subsequent screen so that a participant can easily list them again.
A side panel can also be created using a network data file (e.g. a roster) to allow a participant to select and nominate alters from a predetermined list. It is important to note that the exact same list will appear on subsequent side panels within the name generator unless a rule(s) is created to filter the data to be shown on the panel (see network filtering).
Side panels can be expanded or contracted in the interview by clicking on the heading.
Using Forms
When using the "Name Generator (using forms)" Interface, the primary action button will trigger a form that participants must complete to create an alter. This form can include one or more fields to capture specific attribute data on each node (see our key concepts article on forms for further information on creating a form). This interface therefore combines the process of generating alters with the ability to do some basic attribute collection, or name interpreting, tasks.
Best Practices
Use this interface when you want to collect small amounts of attribute data at the same time as a node is elicited. This can be more efficient than adding additional Per Alter Form Interfaces, or dedicated name interpreter Interfaces later.
Ensure you collect a value for a variable called name on your form, so that node labelling works correctly.
Try to Avoid
Resist the urge to create long forms with many items. This may discourage participants from naming additional alters, as it will make the task of nominating an alter more burdensome.
Avoid attributes that might be better considered relative to other nodes in the network. For example, perceptual scales may benefit from using the Ordinal Bin Interface.