Abstract :
Link analysis in various forms is now an established
technique in many different subjects, reflecting the perceived
importance of links and of the Web. Acritical but
very difficult issue is how to interpret the results of social
science link analyses. It is argued that the dynamic
nature of the Web, its lack of quality control, and the online
proliferation of copying and imitation mean that
methodologies operating within a highly positivist,
quantitative framework are ineffective. Conversely, the
sheer variety of the Web makes application of qualitative
methodologies and pure reason very problematic to
large-scale studies. Methodology triangulation is consequently
advocated, in combination with a warning that
the Web is incapable of giving definitive answers to
large-scale link analysis research questions concerning
social factors underlying link creation. Finally, it is
claimed that although theoretical frameworks are appropriate
for guiding research, a Theory of Link Analysis is
not possible.
