Christine Bevc - Networks and Preparedness

Christine Bevc
PhD Student, Department of Sociology, University of Colorado
"Networks and Preparedness"

This curriculum unit, entitled "Networks and Preparedness," is designed as a two-part unit to introduce students to the growing field of social network analysis (SNA) and its application to the contemporary problem of community preparedness. In preparation for this unit, students will be provided several short readings to begin introducing them to social network analysis and community-based networks. (These readings may be tailored to their specific discipline through an additional reading from a recommended list of readings.) During these two units, students will learn the basics of SNA methods through a sample data set and answer questions based on series of exercises. In addition, students will be introduced to network analysis software and visualization tools through hands-on experience with real-world data. The examples and data sets for the students were collected from fieldwork in five different regions and were gathered with the intent of understanding regional interactions and collaborations. The exercises are designed to help students develop network-based research questions related to inter-organizational relationships, communication, and emergency preparedness. Students will gain an understanding of the interdependent and collaborative relationships among organizations in these regionally-based networks.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to demonstrate:

• A working knowledge of basic social network concepts and software; and
• An ability to analyze and answer network-based questions related to community-based preparedness networks.

Intended Audience

This curriculum unit has been developed with the following audiences in mind:

• Students with an introductory knowledge of social science research methods at the undergraduate, graduate, and executive education levels.

Please note: This curriculum unit also contains suggestions for adapting its materials to a secondary school audience.

Table of Contents

Instructor Guide

Part 1: Social Network Analysis and Methods

Part 2: Applying Social Networks to Emergency Preparedness

Supporting Materials

PowerPoint Presentation with Audio: Social Network Analysis and Methods

PowerPoint Presentation with Audio: Networks and Preparedness

Exercise 1: Who Owns the Fish

Exercise1_DataA Dataset

Exercise1_DataB Dataset

Exercise1_Attribute Dataset

Exercise 2: Describing Social Networks

Exercise2_DataA

Exercise2_DataA

Exercise2_DataA

Exercise2_AttributesA

Exercise2_AttributesB

Exercise2_AttributesC

Please note: instructors and students using this curriculum unit will need to download UCINet, a Windows-based software program for social network analysis. The program is available for a free 60-day trial online at: www.analytictech.com/ucinet6/ucinet.htm

Materials for this unit can be requested by emailing education@start.umd.edu.

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