  Network analysis has become a well-recognized methodology in physics
education research (PER), with study topics including student performance and
persistence, faculty change, and the structure of conceptual networks. The
social network analysis side of this work has focused on quantitative analysis
of whole-network cases, such as the structure of networks in single classrooms.
Egocentric or personal network approaches are largely unexplored, and
qualitative methods are underdeveloped. In this paper, we outline theoretical
and practical differences between two major network paradigms--whole-network
and egocentric--and introduce theoretical frameworks and methodological
considerations for egocentric studies. We also describe qualitative and
mixed-methods approaches that are currently missing from the PER literature. We
identify areas where these additional network methods may be of particular
interest to physics education researchers, and end by discussing example cases
and implications for new PER studies.
