This study consisted of a social network analysis based on public verdicts with evidence from the encrypted service EncroChat. The aim of this study was to investigate different aspects within the network. The study related to two theories: differential association and social organization. Through the method of network analysis, the results showed that the data has many levels and that the network formation may shift appearance depending on analyzing perspective. It concludes that network leaders presented by the prosecutor do not have a central position according to the graphs and that women in the network are peripheral. The results showed cooperation within larger geographical areas which may suggest larger organization according to social organization theory. According to differential association theory there are reasons to suggest that the theory is applicable to the study. / Studien bestod av social nätverksanalys via offentligt material från en tingsrätt. Arbetet utgick från en specifik dom med huvudsaklig bevisning genom den krypterade tjänsten EncroChat och ytterligare domar samlades därefter in i en andra generation. Syftet var att studera olika aspekter av nätverket. Studien tog avstamp i två teorier; differentiella associationer och social organisationsteori. Genom social nätverksanalytisk metod visade studiens resultat att datamaterialet har många nivåer och att nätverkets sammansättning kan skifta beroende på analytiskt perspektiv. Analysen visade att åklagarens utpekade ledare av nätverket inte fick en central position i arbetets nätverksgrafer samt att kvinnor förekom i periferin. Resultaten visade även på samarbeten över större geografiska områden vilket kan indikera en större organisering utifrån social organisationsteori. Sett till teorin differentiella associationer fanns det goda skäl att anta att teorin var applicerbar gentemot studien.

<p>Increasingly over the last few decades, funders and academic institutions have promoted the idea of interdisciplinarity as a way of harnessing new knowledge and fostering innovation in science. This dissertation of 4 papers sought to articulate how interdisciplinarity is experienced by health researchers involved in interdisciplinary research and to develop and implement a literature-based, researcher-informed framework for assessing interdisciplinarity. Findings from Paper 1 suggested that interdisciplinary teams tend to be formed based on who can contribute tangible skills needed for answering the research question, however interpersonal factors (e.g. previous positive working relationship) also drive how teams are formed. Paper 2 involved the development of the Framework for Interdisciplinary Research Assessment (FIRA). The literature revealed limited empirical work related to interdisciplinary evaluation, however, a detailed list of issues and possible metrics for evaluation was compiled, and characteristics common to the structure-process-outcome framework of quality were used to conceptualize interdisciplinary health research evaluation. In Paper 3, interviews and a survey were used to populate the FIRA model. Overall, there was a sense that skills, personality, and knowledge were greater considerations than disciplinary affiliation. Paper 4 involved the application of social network analysis in order to understand knowledge sharing in an interdisciplinary team and results highlighted the important role of staff as conduits of information. Overall, findings indicated that though interdisciplinarity is valued conceptually, it can be challenging to operationalize in practice. The FIRA model offers a viable structured approach for teams to engage in formative and summative assessment of interdisciplinarity.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

<p>This thesis was successfully defended on January 15, 2014 at McMaster University.</p> / <p>Understanding why policies change is an important pursuit for researchers and policy-makers alike. Research evidence is one of many possible factors that encourage or constrain policy change, as is the role of ‘networks’ of policy actors. Despite extensive empirical literature on each of evidence-informed health policy and policy networks, the two have rarely been studied together, particularly in low-income country policy environments. This thesis explores both of these variables in a broader structural context of institutions, interests and ideas. Concepts and approaches from social network analysis are applied to three distinct research questions and chapters with the objective to: 1) develop and test a conceptual framework for the integration of networks, institutions, interests and ideas as major variables explaining policy change; 2) test the relationship between policy network structure (closure and heterogeneity) on the use of research evidence and innovation across the three cases; and 3) model the factors that influence the formation of an evidence exchange relationship between policy actors, and the effect of those exchanges on actor-level use of research evidence. Taken together, the findings of this dissertation present persuasive support for adopting a network lens to study evidence-informed health policy and policy change.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

A pesar de la importancia de los parques nacionales para la conservación de la biodiversidad y de paisajes únicos y representativos de la biosfera, la gestión de muchas de estas áreas enfrentan serias dificultades, determinadas por una variedad de deficiencias, entre las cuales destacan sistemas de monitoreo que no abordan de manera integral sus principales problemas de gestión. La presente investigación examina los factores influyentes dentro de la efectividad de manejo de estas áreas, utilizando las metodologías DPSIR, ANP y ARS, con miras a proponer nuevos enfoques metodológicos que contribuyan a incrementar la eficiencia en pro del cumplimiento de sus objetivos de conservación. El enfoque DPSIR permitirá organizar un conjunto de factores influyentes a considerar en el sistema de gestión y aclara las relaciones de causa-efecto hacia una gestión más eficaz y eficiente, mediante la identificación de las fuerzas motrices, presiones, estado, impactos y respuestas en el sistema de gestión. El Proceso Analítico de Redes (ANP) se utiliza para modelar el problema de decisión y la red de criterios y alternativas estructuradas en grupos, a fin de priorizar su importancia en función de los objetivos de manejo. Este enfoque proporciona un lenguaje común de gestión para una mejor integración del sistema de gestión en los otros sistemas de la administración pública, con la activa participación de los principales actores, incluyendo las comunidades locales. El Análisis de Redes Sociales (ARS) servirá para describir las relaciones existentes entre todos los actores vinculados entre sí en forma significativa con el manejo y conservación del área protegida, documentando los patrones estructurales que surgen entre ellos dentro de la compleja red de interacciones del Parque Nacional, con influencia o autoridad en su manejo. / Díaz Martín, D. (2015). Aplicación de las metodologias DPSIR, ANP y ARS en el manejo y conservacion del Parque Nacional Waraira Repano, Venezuela [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/48804

This study investigates how the terms "greenwashing" and "fashion sustainability" are transmitted among social entities, as well as who impacts this social discourse in terms of structure, pattern, and substance. Three specific research objectives are: identifying opinion influencers in greenwashing and sustainable fashion communication, determining the diffusion structure of greenwashing discourse in social media (i.e., Twitter) communication, and investigating the associated social discourse regarding keywords' semantic networks on Twitter. This study employs social network analysis (SNA) to perform cluster mapping and semantic analysis on Twitter networks, with a focus on investigating the social discourse around greenwashing in fashion sustainability initiatives.The identification and diffusion of content and discourse on Twitter concerning sustainability and greenwashing in the fashion industry may be facilitated by utilizing theories such as two-step flow communication and selective exposure theory. This study discovered the critical significance of social influencers, diffusion structures, and communication in generating the discourse of greenwashing in fashion sustainability practices through shared networks. Based on the findings, we provide crucial theoretical contributions and managerial implications for businesses concerned with greenwashing and sustainable fashion. Findings from data networks may help organizations and people understand communication patterns, community growth on social media, and different types of discourse inside the network.

Published Article / The paper reports on a Learn 2.0 technology that was used to support the continuing professional development of mathematics teachers at a secondary school. Design Based Research methods were used within a Multiphase Mixed Methods research framework to create professional development opportunities that were subsequently monitored by Social Network Analysis techniques. We demonstrate that Learn 2.0 technologies can indeed support the continuing professional development of teachers and improve their performance, and also that Social Network Analysis is an effective method to describe, comprehend, clarify and transparently monitor teacher engagement during online professional development activities. We identify 'participation' as a key pre-determinant to success.

Trismegistos (TM, http://www.trismegistos.org) is a metadata platform for the study of texts from the Ancient World, coordinated and maintained by the KU Leuven research group of Ancient History. Originating from the Prosopographia Ptolemaica, TM was developed in 2005 as a database containing information about people mentioned in papyrus documents from Ptolemaic Egypt. In other related databases additional information about these texts was found: when they were written (dates), where they are stored (collections) and to which archive they belong (archives). The following years also epigraphic data were added to these databases. The TM platform has two important goals: firstly it functions as an aggregator of metadata for which it also links to other projects (e.g. Papyrological Navigator, Epigraphic Database Heidelberg), secondly it can be used as an identifying tool for all of its content such as Ancient World texts, places and people. With its unique identifying numbers and stable URI\'s, TM sets standards for and bridges the gap between different digital representations of Ancient World texts. In the future TM aims not only to expand its coverage, but also to provide new ways to study these ancient sources, for example via social network analysis trough its latest addition: Trismegistos networks ((http://www.trismegistos.org/network).

在傳統資訊系統開發過程中，需求分析通常被視為非常關鍵的步驟。但在Web-based的資訊系統開發中，需求分析卻很少被提及。這篇論文提要主要強調傳統資訊系統與Web資訊系統的差異，並提出一個社群導向系統的需求擷取架構。這個架構將需求擷取分成三個階段：初步分析、關鍵使用者需求分析以及一般使用者的反應。目前Web的開發技術以及社群設計的方法，通常只做初步分析，在系統開發過程中並不直接蒐集使用者的需求。本文提出的三階段架構強調關鍵使用者的重要性，並建議採用社會網路分析作為辦識關鍵使用者的工具。 關鍵使用者區分為資訊、溝通、交易以及娛樂四大類別。初步預試這四種不同類別的關鍵使用者是否會產生較多該類別的資訊需求，以及是否產生較多的需求總數。結果發現只有資訊的關鍵使用者產生較多的資訊需求以及總需求，而其他類別的關鍵使用者與產生需求數量上的關係都不顯著。而另一項有趣的發現是：20％資訊關鍵使用者可以產生大約80％的需求總數，與Pareto規則的預測相似。資訊關鍵使用者的意見是否可以代表全體的意見，預試的結果顯示80％以上的需求重要性評估，關鍵使用者與全體的意見沒有顯著差異。 實地研究採用則探究兩個線上社群，一為關係導向社群，另一則為興趣社群，用以探索使用者角色，涉入程度以及需求知覺間的關係。多變量共變數分析的結果顯示：去除涉入程度的影響後，使用者角色會顯著影響使用者對於需求的知覺，雖然影響的方式以及程度並不相同。高涉入的使用者對於需求的敏銳度，普遍比低涉入者需求要高，並不因為需求種類而有所不同，最後並討論管理的意涵以及日後的研究方向。 / Although the requirement analysis is generally considered a critical stage in traditional information systems development (ISD), but it does not get enough attention in most Web-based information systems development (WISD) or the emerging community-oriented design. The thesis highlighted the difference between ISD and WISD, and proposed a three-stage model of user requirements elicitation for community-oriented design. This model divides the requirements definition in three stages: initial analysis, key user requirements elicitation, and regular user responses. Most current WIS and community design methodologies consider only initial analysis or attempt to build common system architecture, and neglect actual users’ requirements. Key user input is emphasized in this model, and social network analysis (SNA) is proposed as a tool for identifying key users. The pilot study empirically tested the relationship between the number of key users and that of elicited requirements. The study applied SNA to identify key users (defined as their influence) in “information”, “purchase”, “communication” or “entertainment” networks, and then elicited their requirements of two WIS. The preliminary results demonstrated that the number of key users in “information” dimension was significantly correlated with the numbers of elicited “information” requirements and overall requirements. However, the number of key users in “purchase”, “communication” and “entertainment” dimension had no significant relationships with the number of the elicited requirements. The requirements collected from 20 percent of “key users” accounted for approximate 80 percent of total requirements, similar to the results predicted by Pareto’s rule. In addition, the representativeness of requirements from key users opinions was also tested. Two online communities were designed to explore the relationship between user roles, user involvement and users’ perception towards requirements. And the MANCOVA results showed that user role (with user involvement as a blocking variable) has a major impact on an individual’s perception towards requirements, though the difference varies in a certain way. User involvement has also a determining effect on a user’s perception toward each type of requirements. Managerial implications were also discussed.

近年來，由於網路發展、知識水平的提升、社會大眾對網路使用習性的改變以及網路瀏覽速度的提升，網路影音播放已然相當普及；同時，Web2.0的概念廣為網路使用者接受，使YouTube 等Web2.0影音網站崛起。以YouTube為首的Web2.0影音網站，成為了人們參與網路社群以及與他人互動的管道；另一方面，全球化競爭，網路廣告的廣泛使用，讓Web2.0影音網站成為一項新穎的傳播媒介。 　　本研究於YouTube網站上抓取11,269筆「蘋果電腦Mac系列產品」相關資料，利用資料間的好友關係、訂閱／被訂閱關係，建構一社會網絡；並使用社會網絡分析中著重連結方向性的方法，辨識網絡上的傳播關鍵節點，包括廣為對外散佈意見的意見領袖、集中訂閱的參考節點，以及深度涉入特定影音類型的專家；同時本研究使用資料探勘中的關連規則分析，獲得傳播關鍵節點間的關連規則。其次，本研究使用人與人矩陣辨識使用者透過哪些影音類型會產生緊密連結；另利用資料探勘中的分群技術，將網絡上的節點作子網絡歸屬，透過分析子網絡的屬性，加上各子網絡適合行銷傳播的特性，探討在影音網站上行銷傳播之特性。 　　本研究發現，在YouTube網站上與Mac系列產品有關的使用者，多喜好觀賞音樂、娛樂類型的影音，且使用者透過觀看音樂和電影與動畫類型影音易產生緊密連結；九個分群子網絡關鍵傳播節點和關連規則數量都不一，且適合傳播的影音類型都不相同，將可視要傳播的理念或產品性質最接近的子網絡來操作傳播。 / Nowadays, web videos are put to use universally due to the development of Internet, arising of the multitude knowledge and the change of the Internet using behavior. Moreover, the concept of Web2.0 has accepted by the Internet users. The reasons mentioned above result the prosperity of Web2.0 video websites like YouTube. Several user interaction facts have made Web2.0 video websites channels which allow people to participate in web communities and to interact with each others. Furthermore, the Web2.0 video websites have become a new communication media on account of worldwide competition and the using of Internet advertisement. Therefore, the enterprises often interpenetrate target consumers by web videos through Web2.0 video websites. The research propose an analytic structure which is an effective method to recognize the critical properties of marketing communication on Web2.0 video websites by social network analysis, data mining and communication theories. The main purposes of the research are as following. 1. To present an analytic structure to realize the keys to marketing communicate on Web2.0 video websites. 2. Critical network problems analysis, positioning the network users and explaining the marketing communication meaning. 3. Verifying with YouTube-Mac network.

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the use of social network analysis to examine the peer involvement and supportive relationships of students living within an exclusively first-generation RLC. Using network surveys targeted toward a first-generation population, the networks of first-year residents were visualized and measured. The supportive peer relationships that provided students with encouragement, validation, and academic assistance were identified, as well as the networks for friendship and study partnership. The networks identified for this study were examined to find if change occurred between the start and the end of the semester. Multiple regression QAPs were performed to explore if the RLC’s social programming displayed an association with the network ties students formed at the end of their first semester. The results of these analyses are presented, in addition to recommendations for future research studies and evaluations. This study indicates that first-generation RLCs can gain a great deal of information about their students’ social involvement using social network analysis techniques, as well as investigate if students are acquiring support from peers as intended.