What is Social Network Analysis?

Social Network Analysis (SNA) is a growing discipline that explores the formal and informal relationships between people in organizations.  By focusing on relationships, SNA researchers conceptualize complex organizations as continuously changing ecosystems.  SNA methods and statistical tools are capable of visualizing and measuring many different kinds of relationships as they form, decay, or strengthen between actors.  My research uses SNA to explain variation in innovation expression across school networks.

My Research

The primary aim of the research is to develop a Social Network Analysis procedure for visualizing and measuring innovation expression in schools.  I work with school organizations that are actively innovating.  By participating, a school receives valuable data that can be used to accelerate and strengthen ongoing innovations.

Participating schools will receive a Network Report.  This report will identify Relevant Actors and Influencers within the school organization.  Identifying and understanding these types of actors is critical to support innovation.

The research protocol attempts to do three things:
  • Identify Relevant Actors- individuals that demonstrate useful knowledge and skills to an ongoing innovation.
  • Recognize Influencers- actors that occupy central positions in a network, thereby controlling the spread of information and resources.
  • Leverage Relevant Actors- create actions steps to increase the visibility and availability of individuals most able to promote a desired innovation.

Intuitive Visuals

My work produces intuitive visuals of the school organization.  This sample network diagram shows that inter-department relationships are strong.  There are also several well-connected individuals at the center of the diagram.  This research attempts to elevate Relevant Actors to more central positions in the school network.

Powerful Analytics

Centrality and Community Detection are powerful analytical tools to support innovation expression.  Participants are provided with full analysis of their network diagrams.  This allows schools to be confident in the identification of Relevant Actors and Influencers.  These key actors can then be used to accelerate and strengthen an ongoing innovation.

What would participating in an SNA study look like?

Step #1
​All staff complete an 8-question online survey.  I also complete pre-scheduled 15-minute interviews with a majority of staff during a short school visit.
Step #2
​The appropriate working group or committee completes a custom rubric to self-assess progress towards adoption of an ongoing innovation.
Step #3
Use your network diagram and custom analysis to accelerate and support the innovation.

A Little About
​Myself.

Currently I am working towards a PhD with the Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge in the U.K.  My research aims to understand the organizational structures and processes that drive innovation in schools.

As a former public school teacher in the United States, I worked in schools that rapidly implemented and sustained significant innovations to teaching and learning.  I also worked in schools that quickly abandoned and often resisted seemingly simple innovations.  I believe that studying innovation will help our schools function as adaptable and responsive organizations for the communities they serve.  A primary goal of this research is to provide processes to support new collaborations within a school organization to leverage beneficial innovations for teachers and students.

Is innovation happening in your school?

I am currently looking for schools that are interested in identifying and supporting innovation within their school organizations.  Please reach out if your school might be interested in using Social Network Analysis to support innovation in your school organization.
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