| Session Title: Using Social Network Analysis to Understand and Enhance Collaboration in Community Coalitions and Inter-Agency Initiatives |
| Multipaper Session 238 to be held in Palos Verdes A on Thursday, Nov 3, 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM |
| Sponsored by the Social Network Analysis TIG |
| Chair(s): |
| Marah Moore, i2i Institute, marah@i2i-institute.com |
| Discussant(s): |
| Beth Steenwyk, Michigan's Integrated Improvement Initiatives, beth.a.steenwyk@mac.com |
| Debra Heath, Albuquerque Public Schools, heath_d@aps.edu |
| Abstract: Social network analysis is becoming an increasingly popular tool for describing and developing dynamic systems such as coalitions and inter-agency initiatives. Social network analysis examines how informal relationships and interactions between people and organizations influence key organizational behaviors, such as adoption of innovation, change management, information and resource sharing, effective collaboration, and shared purposes and goals. Panel members will present and discuss two examples of collaborative evaluations that used social network analysis in educational contexts, a School District and a State level Special Education Initiative, and the development of an online network analysis data collection tool. The focus of the panel discussion will be on the collaborative processes used in the examples presented from both evaluator and program staff perspectives, and advantages and challenges associated with this evaluation method. |
| Using Network Analysis to Understand and Improve Collaboration Among Michigan's Integrated Improvement Initiatives and Center for Educational Networking |
| Jan Vanslyke, JVS Evaluation Inc, jan@jvseval.com |
| David Merves, Evergreen Evaluation and Consulting, david@evergreenevaluation.net |
| As part of a collaborative mixed-method evaluation of Michigan's Integrated Improvement Initiatives and Center for Educational Networking (MI3-CEN), network analysis was used to characterize current patterns of collaboration in shared function areas among key network partners, and to identify opportunities for strategic development. Evaluation goals and methods were collaboratively identified by MI3-CEN network staff and evaluators. Panel participants will discuss this collaborative process and results of the network analysis from both an evaluator and user perspective. |
| Internet-Facilitated Seamless Data Transfer from Respondent Input-to-UCINET Social Networking Analysis Software |
| James Frasier, University of Wisconsin-Madison, jfrasier@education.wisc.edu |
| Session attendees will learn how Wisconsin is evaluating the intensity of collaboration among geographically dispersed professionals responsible for implementing personnel development activities. Session attendees will receive a formal paper describing how the evaluator designed, developed, and implemented an internet-facilitated software to seamlessly collect, compile and transfer survey respondent data to the UCINET social network analysis tool. Dr. Frasier is a Senior Researcher at the Center on Education and Work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is the Lead Evaluator Wisconsin's annual 1.4 million dollar Office of Special Education Programs State Personnel Development Grant (2002-present). |
| Considerations in the use of Network Analysis as a Tool for Developing and Examining Changes in Community Coalitions and Other Dynamic Systems |
| Jeni Cross, Colorado State University, jeni.cross@colostate.edu |
| Network analysis is an exciting tool community groups, coalition members, and evaluators can use to understand and improve inter-agency collaboration. Tools such as network analysis can provide a means for measuring dynamic systems and aid in the adoption of innovation, development of community coalitions, and the examination of changes in grant-funded inter-agency networks. An example of network analysis with a Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative to examine changes in interagency collaboration over time will be presented to illustrate advantages and challenges associated with this evaluation method. |