Social Professional Networks

The paper describes the first stage of a comprehensive study of the academic social network ResearchGate.net. The objectives are to formulate a theoretical basis for the research of Academic Social Networking Sites (ASNS) and to analyze the first data of the global geographic and disciplinary distribution of ASNS ResearchGate. The theoretical concept involves the analysis of academic social networks as complex sociotechnical systems for the production, distribution and accumulation of scientific information. Hence, academic social networks are considered both as an environment and as an instrument of scientific communication. As an environment, ASNS are defined as a quasi-virtual field of scientific interaction, where "active" and "passive" types of communicators are distinguished. In turn ASNS as an instrument is a comprehensive system for archiving scientific information, indexing content, and

Crowdsourcing has by now proven itself particularly useful in the early phases of product design, outperforming traditional in-house R&D. However, little attention has been given to the application of crowdsourcing in design research where the cost and time of planning and executing studies, combined with inherent biases in selection of participants, unintentional priming of and inadvertent influence of subjects responses can ruin the outcome. Additionally, when unexpected and unexplainable findings occur, the value and validity of the study can be seriously undermined. Here lean, quick crowdsourcing experiments could aid in planning of conventional research or in some cases replacing these completely. We propose a Six Step Co-creation Cycle method and apply it to thirty projects with varying level of innovativeness. In doing so we uncover a range of pros, such as uncovering biases, collecting new knowledge and building a research network and cons, such as limited ability to synthesize ideas and the need to eliminating noise, of applying crowdsourcing in the early phases of design research.

The paper argues for use of Twitter analytics in the study of public policy. Twitter as a social media platform is widely used by many users to express their emotions on various issues. Governments are now realizing the need for social media for administrative purposes and information proliferation to the general public. However, the extent of knowledge among policy makers, about gathering insights from citizen conversations on various social media platforms needs improvement. This research discusses Twitter analytics for two different use cases namely 'Demonetization' and 'GST', where citizen engagement and conversations are monitored, to gain insights. These use cases vary in terms of focus, volume, velocity, veracity, time frame, location, and networked-ness. Possible inferences are presented to gain insights and to help in the policy making process.

ObjectiveCurrently, use of social networking services (SNSs) for interprofessional collaboration is increasing. However, few studies have reported on virtual interprofessional interactions in community healthcare services. Revealing such structural characteristics of the networks can provide insight into the functions of the interprofessional information-sharing network and lead to smoother collaboration. Thus, we aimed to explore the structure of SNS-based information-sharing clinical networks.DesignSocial network analysis (SNA).SettingWe selected a community in City X in Japan.Data collectionWe analysed SNS-based information-sharing clinical network data linked to patients receiving home medical care or care services between January and December 2018. A network was created for each patient to allow healthcare professionals to post and view messages on the web platform. In the SNA, healthcare professions registered in a patient group were represented as nodes, and message posting/v...

Depression is not just a persistent feeling of sadness and low mood, it is more than that. The primary health care team shares different roles in managing depression. Nurses, in all care facilities take care of patients holistically (physically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually). Nurses are on top of their profession tending the well and sick. Understanding nurses’ key roles in the management of illnesses is vital in the care process. The research is a literature review, which aims to identify the nursing interventions used widely in managing depression in the general population. Jean Watson’s Nursing Care Theory was used as a guide theoretical foundation for the research paper and search process uncovered 20 peer reviewed articles published from 2000-2018.

Granovetter’s theory on the strength of weak ties provides an analysis of processes in interpersonal networks forming a very fruitful micro-macro bridge in sociology. When applied to organizations, theories of weak ties give a basis for understanding the mechanisms of work interoperability and information exchange. Recently the term ‘virtual organization’ is increasingly used to describe a new organizational form including a network of companies. It is essential to examine weak ties and their implications in the context of virtual organizations. In this case, weak ties of interpersonal and group relations are increasingly mediated electronically, through the use of e-mail and other services of the new information and communication technologies. Furthermore, these theories may be used as tools to comprehend processes of mediatization at the organizational level. For instance, in this way one can analyze situations of managerial deficit present in virtual organizations by implementing...

Feeding residents with dementia in long-term care settings can be challenging, partly related to environmental factors. Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) are primarily responsible for feeding residents with dementia who need assistance. Given that older adults with dementia have an increased risk of developing malnutrition, there is a need to develop standards in place for constructing an ideal dining environment to optimize residents’ dietary intake. This qualitative study was conducted to explore CNA’s perspectives of how dining areas could be enhanced to improve food intake of residents with dementia. Nine focus groups were conducted with a total of 53 CNAs who had at least one year of experience feeding residents. Focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using directed content analysis guided by the Social Ecological Model. CNAs reported that distractions can significantly inhibit residents’ food intake; therefore, limiting distractions suc...

Depression is not just a persistent feeling of sadness and low mood, it is more than that. The primary health care team shares different roles in managing depression. Nurses, in all care facilities take care of patients holistically (physically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually). Nurses are on top of their profession tending the well and sick. Understanding nurses’ key roles in the management of illnesses is vital in the care process. The research is a literature review, which aims to identify the nursing interventions used widely in managing depression in the general population. Jean Watson’s Nursing Care Theory was used as a guide theoretical foundation for the research paper and search process uncovered 20 peer reviewed articles published from 2000-2018.

Due to new United States Federal Regulations and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation standards focusing on kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) student outcomes, teacher education providers are facing the challenge of gaining access to their graduates’ teacher effectiveness and K-12 student learning data. The College of Education (COE) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, a large, public research university, has taken strategic steps to secure post-graduation data access for program completers with the primary purpose of using it for program improvement. To do this, we needed a disciplined process for employing data as the driver for improvement. Improvement science provides a methodology for accelerating the process of learning to improve through disciplined inquiry. The field of education has seen numerous rapidly deployed reform initiatives that have failed to deliver their desired outcomes. Bryk, Gomez, Grunow, and LeMahieu [2] propose that the common t...

Granovetter's theory on the strength of weak ties provides an analysis of processes in interpersonal networks forming a very fruitful micro-macro bridge in sociology. When applied to organizations, theories of weak ties give a basis for understanding the mechanisms of work interoperability and information exchange. Recently the term 'virtual organization' is increasingly used to describe a new organizational form including a network of companies. It is essential to examine weak ties and their implications in the context of virtual organizations. In this case, weak ties of interpersonal and group relations are increasingly mediated electronically, through the use of e-mail and other services of the new information and communication technologies. Furthermore, these theories may be used as tools to comprehend processes of mediatization at the organizational level. For instance, in this way one can analyze situations of managerial deficit present in virtual organizations by implementing the use of the 'net-broker concept.' Finally, the way information flows and is processed within an organization depends on the media technologies used. The way people interact and share information through a computer-mediated communication channel depends on the social context of the used media technology. We intend to illustrate this point in the emerging patterns of weak ties in virtual organizations.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how to help improve a higher education institution's research profile by using existing resources and existing research outputs. Design/methodology/approach – The study was based on quantitative data extracted manually from QS University Rankings-Asia 2016, the 2015 Ranking of Pakistani Higher Education Institutions, and ResearchGate. Resultant data were loaded into Excel and analysed in SPSS Version 21. Findings – The results of this study indicate that, while there is no direct correlation between an institution's national / international ranking and its respective ResearchGate (RG) Score, there is a tendency for lower ranked institutions to have a lower RG Score. Research limitations/implications – The study was limited to data extracted from ResearchGate; however, it would be useful to apply the same methodology to other relevant ASNS. Practical implications – The paper has suggested strategies which may be of relevance to those institutions in other countries which are aspiring to lift their national ranking through improved research profiles. Libraries are important contributors to the support of institutional research goals. Originality/value – There have been no previous published research studies on either the potential for ASNS to contribute to enhancing research outcomes for Pakistani higher education institutions or the role that libraries could play in supporting these outcomes.

Social media have been widely embraced by governments for information dissemination and engagement but less is known about their value as information sources. Crowdsourced content from social media can improve inclusivity in policy development but it is not always clear how it can form part of policy evidence. The paper builds on the conceptual framework of crowd capabilities to examine the value of social media data in evidence-based policy. Acquisition and assimilation – the two elements of crowd capabilities – drive our exploratory case analysis in the context of agricultural policies in the UK. The study combined qualitative data from interviews and workshops with an analysis of networks of farmers on Twitter. Policy makers were broadly positive about the immediacy, cost-effectiveness and diversity of useful input that can be sourced from online sources. Limitations were identified in terms of representation and inclusion of participants in large datasets that are sourced from open platforms. We compare social media data to traditional sources of evidence and further reflect on the new capabilities that can support the needs of policy makers in this endeavor.

Due to new United States (U.S.) Federal Regulations and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation standards focusing on K-12 student outcomes, teacher education providers are facing the challenge of gaining access to data on their graduates. The College of Education (COE) at a large, public research university in the western U.S. has taken strategic steps to secure post-graduation data access for program completers with the primary purpose of using it for program improvement. To do this, we needed a disciplined process for employing data as the driver for improvement.

Improvement science provides a methodology for accelerating the process of learning to improve through disciplined inquiry. The field of education has seen numerous rapidly deployed reform initiatives that have failed to deliver their desired outcomes. Bryk, Gomez, Grunow, and LeMahieu (2015) propose that the common thread in such failed change initiatives is the act of “going fast and learning slow." In order to counter this common occurrence, there must be a shift in thinking and practice to “learning fast to implement well” (p. 6-7).  Central to this approach are gradual, iterative cycles that focus on evidence related to specific problems of practice and the influence of system factors on the implementation of change (Bryk, Gomez, & Grunow, 2010; Park, Hironaka, Carver, & Nordstrum, 2013). Working within networked communities, practitioners engage in rapid cycles of learning through a plan-do-study-act process that seeks to build shared knowledge and ownership within the improvement process (Dolle, Gomez, Russell, & Bryk, 2013; Langley et al., 2009; Lewis, 2015).

Using the improvement science model as our guide, we started by focusing our work to be problem specific and user-centered. Specifically, we needed to better align our candidate intake, assessment, and graduation processes across five teacher education programs. We also sought to learn more about variations between program processes. We used our exploration to align around clear action steps serving an overall COE goal.  Through this process, we have learned that the tools and processes of improvement science offer a way for teacher education providers to build capacity and drive innovative improvement initiatives.

Traditional Research and Development (R&D) in education specifies a process of extensive development, followed by testing through the use of methodologies that privilege attribution of effects to causes. If warranted, the program is then turned over to the field for spreading as a “research-based practice.” Rarely are similar impacts ever realized. The simple
reason is that although attributional research helps us to know that some practice can produce some effect, it does little to show us how to produce those effects—over and over and across people and places. Context matters greatly when attempting to get promising, yet often complex, ideas into practice. New people (with varying knowledge, skills, and
dispositions), new organizational structures, differing policy environments, and more challenge the idea that implementation is or ever will be a simple turnkey activity.

Current literature on translation sociology often attributes the competitive disposition among freelance literary translators to a drive for symbolic capital. At the same time, co-operation has mostly been researched within the context of non-literary translation. This article aims to contribute to debates on the transposability of competitive and co-operative dispositions among freelance literary translators by examining a case study from Turkey. In an unprecedented collaborative project, 83 translators came together to render Sei Shōnagon’s classic The Pillow Book into Turkish as Yastıkname. The translation process coincided with the establishment of ÇEVBİR, the Professional Association of Translators in Turkey, which champions translators’ rights, promoting professionalization and co-operation. The study concludes that in a reputation-based industry, literary translators strive to garner more status for themselves while simultaneously engaging in co-operative networks to access and share a variety of resources and to enhance solidarity.

Similar to many developed nations, older people living in residential aged care homes in Australia and the staff who care for them have become increasingly multicultural. This cultural diversity adds challenges for residents in adapting to the care home. This study explores: (i) residents' and family members' perceptions about staff and cultural diversity, and (ii) culturally and linguistically diverse residents' and family members' experiences. An interpretive study design employing a thematic analysis was applied. Twenty-three residents and seven family members participated in interviews. Four themes were identified from interpreting residents and family members' perceptions of the impact of cultural diversity on their adaptation to aged care homes: (i) perceiving diversity as an attraction; (ii) adapting to cross-cultural communication; (iii) adjusting to diet in the residential care home; and (iv) anticipating individualized psychosocial interactions. The findings have implications for identifying strategies to support staff from all cultural backgrounds in order to create a caring environment that facilitates positive relationships with residents and supports residents to adjust to the care home.

Background: Dementia is a syndrome associated with stigma and social isolation. Forty-two percent of people with dementia in the United States and almost 40% in the United Kingdom live in assisted living and residential care facilities. Up to 90% of residents with dementia experience behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Currently psychotropic drugs are often used to manage BPSD, despite the drugs' limited efficacy and adverse effects. Even though psychosocial approaches are as effective as medical ones without side effects, their uptake has been slow. Social networks that investigate the structure of relationships among residents and staff may represent an important resource to increase the uptake of psychosocial approaches and facilitate improvements in care. Objectives: To conduct a systematic review of social network studies set in long-term care (LTC), including residents with dementia, and identify network factors influencing the care available to residents. Method: Peer-reviewed articles across CINAHL, EMBASE, IBSS, Medline, PsychInfo, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from January 1994 to December 2014 inclusive, using PRISMA guidelines. Studies included those examining social networks of residents or staff in LTC. Results: Nine articles from studies in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia met search criteria. Resident networks had few social connections. One study proposed that residents with high centrality be encouraged to welcome new residents and disseminate information. The high density in 2 staff network studies was associated with the cooperation needed to provide care to residents with dementia. Staff's boundary-spanning led to higher-status nurses becoming more involved in decision-making and problem-solving in one study. In another, the outcome was staff treating residents with more respect and actively caring for them. Conclusion: These studies suggest interventions using a network approach may improve care services in LTC.

Abstract Granovetter's theory on the strength of weak ties provides an analysis of processes in interpersonal networks forming a very fruitful micro-macro bridge in sociology. When applied to organizations, theories of weak ties give a basis for understanding the mechanisms of work interoperability and information exchange. Recently the term 'virtual organization'is increasingly used to describe a new organizational form including a network of companies.

The arrival of what as referred to as Web 2.0 brought with it an abundance of ways for people to communicate develop, maintain and grow social network ties. There have been venues for people to connect with each other since the 1980s. The dramatic increase in the numbers of people using various types of devices to connect to the Internet means that instead of a few technologically savvy people online, most Americans of all levels of skill and expertise are going on line. As more people join online communities of choice for social and entertainment purposes, people are forming ties with other group members that can best be described as friendships. This is a research proposal for a mixed method study that explores how social network ties function in online as compared to the concrete world but. The survey is adapted from existing measures whose use has been confirmed. A secondary goal is to develop a scale that can be used to measure friendship bonds on the Internet to facilitate future research on this topic.

The emergence and unexpected success of Social Network Sites has at its core one of the principal issue of contemporary sociology: the importance of social networks beyond the boundaries of simple socialization. This phenomenon is particularly evident in the socio-economic field. Several studies confirm the role of social networks in shaping economic phenomena such as the labour market, international trade, migration, entrepreneurship etc. Most of the literature is about the economic effects of social networks; less is known about the factors that generate, sustain and reproduce these networks.
Business Social Network Services (BSNSs) are ‘intentional organizations’ the aim of which are to build and maintain professional relations. They can be in presence (business club) or online (business social network sites).
Early studies regarding the Internet almost always treat it as an isolated social phenomenon without taking into account how interactions on the Net fit together with other aspects of people’s lives. With the growth of virtual communities and later SNSs it has become evident that people lives are not neatly divide into two discrete sets – people seen in-person and people contacted online – but rather, community ties that began in-person can be maintained online, while online ties can be reinforced and broadened through in-person meeting.  Likewise, organizations were set up to utilize Business Social Networks Sites also to build and maintain face-to-face professional relations.
This paper studies the case of Milan IN, a non-profit association set up in 2005 to allow members of LinkedIn living in Milan to physically meet up with each other. We were thus able to analyse both online (LinkedIn) and face-to-face (Milan IN) business social networks, and to highlight any differences perceived by people who use them both.

Professional networking has become an important aspect of many professionals’ work and is often regarded as a valuable asset to businesses. This thesis presents a qualitative study of how professionals in Norway employ the social networking service LinkedIn.

Several social networking services provide support to the creation and maintenance of professional networks, and this has led to an increased potential for many professionals. In January 2008 LinkedIn had 17 million members world-wide, representing over 150 different industries.

The study focuses on how professionals in Norway perceive social networking services and how they employ LinkedIn as a professional networking tool. As such, the study explores how professionals manage their professional network through LinkedIn and examines possible implications of this use.

The empirical findings in the study are based on in-depth interviews with 11 professionals in Norway, which were conducted in November and December 2006.