DAVE GRIFFITHS UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING 18 TH SEPTEMBER 2009 Analysing Multiple Types of Connections...
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Transcript of DAVE GRIFFITHS UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING 18 TH SEPTEMBER 2009 Analysing Multiple Types of Connections...
DAVE GRIFFITHSUNIVERSITY OF STIRLING
18TH SEPTEMBER 2009
Analysing Multiple Types of Connections within a
Network
What do networks attempt to measure?Limitations in knowing what to analyseLimitations in researching elitesMethods available for understanding
structure across spheres of influence
Network analysis analyses networks
Network theory is about analysing ties between actors
How we define ‘ties’ determines the meaning we generate
In many situations, there are multiple types of ‘ties’ available * school friends – classroom, lunchtime or at home
How do we prioritise what types of ties are important?
Problem within Elites research
Researching elites and power an important sociological concept
Useem’s (1984) Inner Circle details how controlling elites know each other
How do we define how people ‘know’ each other?* mutual board memberships mask personality clashes* clubs not always frequented* who knows who is invited to each others homes
Data we hold might be misleading; most relevant data unobtainable
Problem with interlocking directorates
We regard two companies as well-connected if they hold a mutual board member
We analyse the network of companies connected by mutual board members
Bart’s (1982) Structural Hole theory suggests connections between boards facilitated by one individual are not well-connected
Therefore, do mutual board membership ties tell us much about how information can flow through boards of governance?
Does information only flow through board meetings?
Research question
How do we analyse various modes of relationships between actors, without drowning in data?
Which types of ties do we focus upon, and which can be ignored?
How do you measure the centre of a network when it alters under every type of tie studied?
Methodology
Data collected on 187 UK quangos* more specifically, on their 2,858 directors
All information published by quangos and biographical directories coded, including* school and university attended* corporate and charitable directorships* employers* memberships of professional associations and private clubs* institutions awarding honorary degrees
Data coded as whether present (as of 01/01/07) or previous
27 different networks constructed linking quangos through these assorted ‘ties’
Density of networks ranged from .04 to .54
Basic overview of networks
Boards Component K-core Degree Closeness Diameter
Affiliations to professional bodies 176 176 126 (127) .26943 .32130 3
Boards 187 98 3 (6) .03516 .13335 17
Charities 165 130 9 (10) .12023 .22598 7
Charity - previous 120 67 9 (10) .12505 .30962 8
Clubs 133 124 40 (41) .43673 .43540 7
Corporate Advisor 94 21 3 (7) .05633 .34270 6
Current Educational Links 160 148 17 (35) .36088 .36892 5
Directorships 159 52 4 (5) .03729 .12443 18
Editorial 62 5 3 (4) .05355 .60000 2
Educational 147 111 7 (8) .14436 .27324 6
Educational - Previous 104 52 6 (7) .07862 .31774 8
Employment 160 134 19 (20) .22570 .29808 8
Honorary Degree 119 116 22 (38) .53571 .51388 4
Membership 88 45 16 (17) .22106 .35480 5
Other quangos 156 131 9 (10) .10105 .24863 7
Previous NED 111 27 3 (8) .04487 .21638 9
Professional 169 137 20 (21) .22045 .30765 7
Professional - Previous 146 114 27 (28) .24195 .32511 6
Quango Advisor 170 148 19 (20) .21753 .25898 6
Quango Advisor - previous 156 122 11 (22) .18752 .29341 7
Quango - Previous 158 132 11 (39) .20072 .26708 5
School 166 133 14 (15) .14605 .25675 7
Social organisations 171 129 11 (12) .12162 .25161 7
Social organisations – previous 148 68 11 (12) .11350 .28496 9
University 169 169 56 (112) .40722 .44301 4
University – grouped colleges 169 169 105 (125) .23884 .31993 3
Visiting Professor 87 64 8 (9) .23488 .34140 7
The problem of merging data
More manageable networks
Affiliations Charities
CompaniesSchool
Interlocking quangocrats
What do we analyse?
Multiple levels of connections between quangosDifferent descriptions lead to important network
differences occuringTherefore, research question needs to
contextualise what types of connections we measure
When we are studying elites and connections, however, all potential ties are important in their own ways
A method of identifying the most important types of ties is important
Relationship between degree and centrality
200150100500
Degree
1.0000000
0.9000000
0.8000000
0.7000000
0.6000000
0.5000000
0.4000000
Closeness
140120100806040200
Degree
0.9000000
0.8000000
0.7000000
0.6000000
0.5000000
0.4000000
0.3000000
Closness
100806040200
Degree
0.7000000
0.6000000
0.5000000
0.4000000
0.3000000
0.2000000
0.1000000
0.0000000
Closeness
6050403020100
Degree
0.4000000
0.2000000
0.0000000
Closeness
Corporate and quango ties
86420
Degree
0.1200000
0.1000000
0.0800000
0.0600000
0.0400000
0.0200000
0.0000000
Closeness
76543210
Degree
0.07
0.06
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0
Closeness
Quangos Companies
Degree and centrality in two-mode
706050403020100
Degree
0.2500000
0.2000000
0.1500000
0.1000000
0.0500000
0.0000000
Closeness
2520151050
Degree
0.3500000
0.3000000
0.2500000
0.2000000
0.1500000
0.1000000
0.0500000
0.0000000
Closeness
302520151050
Degree
0.2000000
0.1500000
0.1000000
0.0500000
0.0000000
Closeness
35302520151050
Degree
0.2500000
0.2000000
0.1500000
0.1000000
0.0500000
0.0000000
Closeness
Identifying the most central organisation
Component analysis = how many times an institution appears in the largest component
Core analysis = how many times an institution appears in the tightest core of the network
Therefore, which quangos are consistently in the best positions, and which are consistently in the worse?
Most connected quangos
Arts and Humanities Research Council; Audit Commission; Bank of England; BBC; Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council; British Council; British Museum; Channel 4; Culture North West; Economic and Social Research Council; English Heritage; English Partnership; Environment Agency; Health Protection Agency; Heritage Lottery Fund; Higher Education Funding Council; Historic Royal Palaces; Imperial War Museum; Learning and Skills Council; Medical Research Council; National Consumer Council; National Maritime Museum; National Museum of Science and Industry; National Museums Liverpool; National Portrait Gallery; Natural Environment Research Council; North West Development Agency; Northern Lighthouse Board; Nuclear Decommissioning Authority; Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; Quality Improvement Agency; Royal Botanic Gardens Kew; Tate; Victoria and Albert Museum; VisitBritain
Least connected quangos
Agricultural Wages Board; British Potato Council; British Shipbuilders; Commission for Patient And Public Involvement; Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority; Culture South West; Energywatch; Engineering Construction Industry Training Board; Firebuy; Football Licensing Authority; Home-Grown Cereals Authority; Horticultural Development Council; Independent Living Funds; Investors in People; LEASE; Living East; Meat and Livestock Commission; Milk Development Council; Oil and Pipelines Agency; Office of the Children’s Commissioner; Parole Board; Partnerships for Schools; Public Lending Right; Remploy; Royal Marines Museum; Royal Navy Submarine Museum; S4C; Security Industry Authority; Stonebridge HAT; Tote; Trinity House; Valuation Tribunal Service.
Most marginalised quangos
Components Cores
Railway Heritage Committee 16 5
for School Leadership 16 4
Legal Services Commission 16 3
Forensic Sciences Service 15 5
Health and Safety Commission/Executive 15 4
Atomic Energy Authority 15 3
Culture North East 14 5
Culture 14 3
Healthcare Commission 14 3
Police Intelligence and Training Organisation 14 3
Royal Mail 14 3
Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation 14 3
National Army Museum 13 5
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority 13 4
London Thames Gateway Development Corporation 13 4
Olympic Lottery Distributor 13 4
Gambling Commission 13 3
Film Council 13 3
Youth Justice Board for and 13 3
Market Trust 12 5
General Social Care Council 12 5
General Teaching Council 12 5
British Waterways 12 4
Sport 12 3
British Hallmarking Council 12 2
Office for Fair Access 12 2
Churches Conservations Trust 11 3
Sport 11 3
Civil Aviation Authority 11 2
Central narrative
Corporate interests lowly prioritised within quango networks
Little evidence of occupancy of multiple quango boards
Consistency amongst other indicators of social connections between directors
Ties to the cultural elite creates connectionsMultiple types of interest important; strongly
bonding to one type lessens network position
Conclusions
Empirical meaning can be gathered from exploring the full range of potential connections between actors
Analysing the differences between networks in terms of impact of degree on centrality can identify which types of connections are atypical
If consistent structures can be observed, you can start to create your narrative of what is occurring