Macro environmental factors - NETWORKS

Network interventions are based on the [blank_start]diffusion[blank_end] of [blank_start]innovations[blank_end] theory ([blank_start]Rogers[blank_end]), which explains how new [blank_start]ideas[blank_end] and practices [blank_start]spread[blank_end] within and between communities.

A social network is a [blank_start]finite[blank_end] set or sets of actors and the relation or relations [blank_start]defined[blank_end] on them. [blank_start]Norms[blank_end] spread in peer networks because as individuals we want to search for our own [blank_start]identity[blank_end], i.e. who am I? how should I act? how should I feel? - [blank_start]build[blank_end] relationships - [blank_start]belong[blank_end] to a group

How norms spread in a network is influenced by - [blank_start]dynamic[blank_end] processes - [blank_start]positioning[blank_end] in the network - [blank_start]network[blank_end]-level network [blank_start]characteristics[blank_end]

[blank_start]DYNAMIC[blank_end] PROCESSES AT PLAY IN A NETWORK ARE: [blank_start]influence[blank_end] = peers set an example behaviour for others to follow, or put pressure on them to follow. The other peers wish to assimilate. [blank_start]selection[blank_end] - people build relationships/select friends because the other person is doing a behaviour similar to them. People end relationships because the other person is not doing a behaviour similar to them. [blank_start]confounding[blank_end] - other factors - people change behaviour just spontaneously, or they are influenced by the media or parents, or other influences outside the network.

Types of position in the network are - [blank_start]Isol[blank_end]ates - [blank_start]Bridg[blank_end]es - [blank_start]Central[blank_end] member

NETWORK-LEVEL NETWORK CHARACTERISTICS have an impact on the spread of social norms i.e. how [blank_start]dense[blank_end] is the network? Density = number of ties divided by possible number of ties in the network how [blank_start]centralised[blank_end]/decentralised is the network? i.e. mainly focused on one person or one set of people? degree of [blank_start]reciprocity[blank_end] in the network - are network ties reciprocal? degree of [blank_start]transitivity[blank_end] of the network (divides network into triads and measures the nature of the interactions within the triads)

Selecting what type of network intervention depends on: [blank_start]Type[blank_end] of network: friendships, discussion, advice Overall network [blank_start]properties[blank_end] Type of [blank_start]behavior[blank_end] change [blank_start]Environmental[blank_end]/situational context

Why would you use network based interventions? [blank_start]Random[blank_end] sampling often limits the kind of research questions that can be asked and studied. Random sampling [blank_start]removes[blank_end] individuals from the [blank_start]social[blank_end] context that may [blank_start]influence[blank_end] their behavior. Someone’s [blank_start]position[blank_end] in a network provides [blank_start]considerable[blank_end] explanatory power when trying to [blank_start]predict[blank_end] individual behavior.

Research of [blank_start]Christakis[blank_end] - “If your friends are obese, your risk of obesity is [blank_start]45[blank_end] percent higher. … If your friend’s friends are obese, your risk of obesity is [blank_start]25[blank_end] percent higher. … If your friend’s friend’s friend, someone you probably don’t even know, is obese, your risk of obesity is [blank_start]10[blank_end] percent higher. It’s only when you get to your friend’s friend’s friend’s friends that there’s no longer a relationship between that person’s body size and your own body size.”

4 network intervention types 1. Identify [blank_start]individuals[blank_end] to act as a champion - EXAMPLE ASSIST PROGRAMME Identify opinion leaders Identify bridging professionals Identify low-threshold change agents Target the network periphery 2. [blank_start]Segmentation[blank_end] - Identify specific group to change at the same time Look at the core-periphery structure Identify the core of the organisation network Focus resources on the core 3. [blank_start]Induction[blank_end] - Stimulating or forcing peer-to-peer interaction Use mass media campaigns to create a smoke-free buzz among youngsters. Network outreach: let youngsters recruit their own friends to receive an intervention together Respondent driven sampling (RDS) or snowball method Identify ‘seeds’ that recruit others to participate 4. [blank_start]Alteration[blank_end] - Change the network by: Adding/deleting nodes Adding/deleting links between nodes Rewiring existing links