Social Network Analysis as a Utilization-Focused Measure for - - PDF document

Social Network Analysis as a Utilization-Focused Measure for Building a Collaborative PD Network

Amy Gaumer Erickson, Ph.D., Evaluator, Kansas, Missouri, Oregon Kerry Haag, M.S.Ed. Assistant Director of Special Education Services/SPDG Project Director, Kansas Kansas Technical Assistance System Network (TASN) TASN provides technical assistance to support school districts’ implementation of evidence-based practices in a variety of content areas. The overall system is supported by and dependent on intensive collaboration among technical assistance providers to meet the diverse needs of districts in a cost-effective and timely manner. Social Networking Analysis Durland & Fredericks (2005) described social network analysis as the study of relationships within the context of social situations. Expanding on this idea, Knoke and Yang (2008) defined a social network as a structure depicting interconnections among a set of members or actors. A core theoretical challenge in network analysis is to detect and represent the structure while explaining variation in structural relations and the

• consequences. It can be used to capture complex patterns of interaction among actors

(e.g., individuals, agencies) and depict the structural change of inter-actor relationships. In social networking, there are two fundamental relational forms: (a) the intensity, frequency, or strength of interaction between pairs of actors and (b) the direction of relations between dyad members. The intensity or the strength of interaction between pairs of actors is quantified with a scale. For example, a 5-point scale collaboration questionnaire can be rated with 0 represents No Interaction At All, 1 Networking, 2 Cooperation, 3 Coordination, 4 Coalition, and 5 Collaboration (Frey et al., 2006). Guiding Questions Blank Map What does this social networking map tell us about TASN? What seem to be our collaborative strengths? On a whole, are we collaborating at a high enough level? Complete Map Who are the strongest collaborators in the network? Do other entities feel that they collaborate with you at the same level you reported collaborated with them? Would it be beneficial to expand your collaboration with any entities? What strategies could we utilize to expand collaboration as a network?

Levels of Collaboration Scale (Frey et al., 2006) for KSDE TASN Please review these descriptions of different levels of collaboration. On the response section at the bottom of the page, please circle the name of the organization or group with which you are associated. Using the scale provided, please indicate the extent to which you currently interact with each partner. Five Levels of Collaboration and Their Characteristics Networking 1 Cooperation 2 Coordination 3 Coalition 4 Collaboration 5

Relationship Characteristics

• Aware of organization
• Loosely defined roles
• Little communication
• All decisions are made

independently Provide information to each

• ther
• Somewhat defined roles
• Formal communication
• All decisions are made

independently

• Share information and

resources

• Defined roles
• Frequent communication
• Some shared decision

making

• Share ideas
• Share resources
• Frequent and prioritized

communication

• All members have a vote

in decision making

• Members belong to one

system

• Frequent communication

is characterized by mutual trust

• Consensus is reached on

all decisions

Partners No Interaction Networking Cooperation Coordination Coalition Collaboration

Families Together, Inc.

1 2 3 4 5

General Supervision & Accurate Data

1 2 3 4 5

Infinitec/InfiniTEXT

1 2 3 4 5

Kansas Educational Employment (KEEB) Board/eMentoring for Student Success (eMSS)

1 2 3 4 5

Kansas Inservice Training System (KITS)

1 2 3 4 5

Kansas Autism Project (KISN)

1 2 3 4 5

Kansas MTSS Project

1 2 3 4 5

Kansas Parent Information Resource Center (PIRC)

1 2 3 4 5

Kansas Secondary Connections

1 2 3 4 5

KSDE Special Education Services (SES)

1 2 3 4 5

Kansas Instructional Resource Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (KIRC)

1 2 3 4 5

Low Incidence Consortium

1 2 3 4 5

TASN Coordination and Evaluation

1 2 3 4 5

All-State Low Incidence Virtual Endorsement (ALIVE)

1 2 3 4 5

Project Success & Co-Teaching

1 2 3 4 5

TASN Tertiary Behavior Supports

1 2 3 4 5

Families Together Inc.

General Supervision and Accurate Data

Infinitec / InfiniTEXT KEEB / eMSS KITS KISN Kansas MTSS Project KPIRC Kansas Secondary Connections KSDE SES KIRC / TVI COMS Low Incidence Consortium

TASN Coordination & Evaluation Project Project ALIVE Project Success TASN Tertiary Behavior Supports

• - Key --

Level 0 None No line Level 1 Networking No line Level 2 Cooperation Level 3 Coordination Level 4 Coalition Level 5 Collaboration