(In)Visible Nuances: Analytical Methods for a Relational Impact Assessment of Anti-Poverty Projects

In recent social science debates, poverty is seen as a multidimensional phenomenon, not only economic, but also psychological, educational, moral, and relational. The empirical observation and analysis of this latter dimension and its qualities represent a sociological challenge, especially in assessing the integral effectiveness of social projects. As part of this debate, this article proposes an analytical method—based on Social Network Analysis, according to the egocentric or personal approach—and describes its use during an empirical “relational impact assessment” of a specific anti-poverty project in the Northwest region of Argentina. Analysis of the data—collected longitudinally through questionnaires—highlights the changes in the personal “relational configurations” of small entrepreneurs in the tourist area, i.e., the beneficiaries of the project, while also highlighting the emergence of “relational goods”. In this way, this article offers an analytical method to evaluate the “relational impact” of anti-poverty projects in quali–quantitative terms.