ISTE | JRTE: Volume 33 Number 1 Fall 2000

	Edited by Dr. David J. Ayersman, Mary Washington College, and Dr. W. Michael Reed, New York University
formerly Journal of Research on Computing in Education

JRTE, Volume 33, Number 1, Fall 2000

Using Social Network Analysis to Examine the Time of Adoption of Computer-Related Services among University Faculty

Vance A. Durrington
Texas Tech University

Judi Repman
Georgia Southern University

Thomas W. Valente
University of Southern California

Abstract

Research relating to the diffusion of innovations in education has been based primarily on looking at individual characteristics as predictors of use. This study proposes to use social network analysis and diffusion research to study the diffusion of two computer-based administrative services within a university faculty network. The relationship of time of adoption and the number of network nominations received, centrality closeness, spatial proximity, and organizational unit proximity were examined. Participants were 66 faculty members in a college of education at a southern university. They were introduced to the services and asked to provide demographic information and to identify communication partners for advice, friendship, and discussion. Results indicated that the number of friendship network nominations received was negatively correlated with the time of adoption. No correlation was found between time of adoption and spatial and organizational unit proximity.

Contributors

Vance A. Durrington is the Director of Instructional Services in the College of Education at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. His research interests include diffusion of technological innovations, distance learning, and network analysis.

Judi Repman is an associate professor of instructional technology at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro. Her research interests include information literacy and information searching strategies, distance learning, and creating effective technology-mediated learning environments.

Thomas W. Valente is an associate professor and director of the Master’s in Public Health program at the University of Southern California, School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine.

Address: Dr. Vance Durrington, Texas Tech University, Box 41071, College of Education, Lubbock, TX 79409-1071; vance.durrington@ttu.edu.

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