Evaluating the Evolution of Social Networks: A Ten-Year Longitudinal Analysis of an Agricultural, Fishing and Forestry Occupational Health Research Center

Details

• Personal Author:
  Gadomski AM ; Scott EE ; Scribani MB ; Sorensen JA ; Tallman NH ; Tinc PJ
• Description:
  As part of our evaluation of the NIOSH-funded Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (NEC), we present methodology, findings and the potential implications of a sequential social network analysis (SNA) conducted over ten years. Assessing the effectiveness of the center's scientific projects was our overarching evaluation goal. The evaluation design employed SNA to (a) look at changes to the center's network over time by visualizing relationships between center collaborators annually, (b) document collaborative ties and (c) identify particularly strong or weak areas of the network. Transdisciplinary social network criteria were applied to the SNA to examine the collaboration between center personnel, their partners and the industry groups they serve. SNA participants' perspectives on the utility of the SNA were also summarized to assess their interest in ongoing SNA measures. Annual installments of the SNA (2011-2020) showed an expansion of the network with a 30% increase in membership from baseline, as well as an increase in total relational ties (any type of contact). SNA measures also indicated significant increases in co-publication, cross-sector and transdisciplinary ties. Overall, SNA is an effective tool in visualizing and sustaining an occupational safety and health research and outreach network. Its utility is limited by how ties are characterized, grant cycle timeframes and how SNA metrics relate to productivity. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Forestry Hunting Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Social Network Analysis Effectiveness Research Fishing Medical Research Partnership Research Productivity Safety Research Social Media Transdisciplinary Ties
• ISSN:
  1660-4601
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  18
• Issue:
  24
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20064260
• Citation:
  Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Dec; 18(24):12889
• Contact Point Address:
  Melissa B. Scribani, Bassett Medical Center, Bassett Research Institute, Cooperstown, NY 13326, USA
• Email:
  melissa.scribani@bassett.org
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• Performing Organization:
  Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, New York
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20010930
• Source Full Name:
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• End Date:
  20270831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ee7ab7a41dd79b268fe7ccfb5e8e1ad9cd84e9b07b44f9dc03401c91c825c964857d854b527637a8350f42601dccedbe0d39a8592b88401c4abb8b6eac2e4e80
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/222759/cdc_222759_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.48 MB ]