An Analysis of Kinship and Friendship in Networks of West Indians in South London

The aims of the research project are: (1) to work with and develop a model that will help explain kinship and friendship relationships among West Indians in Britain; (2) to use the model to describe and understand these relationships among a group of informants in a West Indian community; and (3) to use the model to explore the ways the kinship and friendship relationships of the informants have influenced decisions with regard to housing.
The model used is that which has been termed network analysis. A network is defined as a set of points (in this instance individuals) defined in relation to an initial point of focus (ego) and linked by lines (which indicate that there is a relationship) either directly or indirectly to this initial point of focus. Such a model requires a very detailed and intensive method of investigation which combines lengthy open-ended interviews with participant—observation whenever possible. The Community of Brixton was selected and informants were chosen by a variety of methods. Eighteen women were selected and data on their kinship and friendship relationships were gathered over a period of eighteen months. Most references to West Indian kinship consider mainly the nuclear family, its structure and the problems which exist for these families in this country. Studies refer generally to norms and values to explain behaviour, but it is suggested by this researcher that reference solely to norms and values, especially in an immigrant community where there may be little normative consensus and where values are constantly changing, explains very little about behaviour. Behaviour is better explained by reference to the networks of relationships in which individuals are located, the exchange nature of the relationships, as well as the norms and values of the individuals.