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Edited by Dr. David J. Ayersman, Mary Washington College,
and Dr. W. Michael Reed, New York University
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| 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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the full article (PDF, 71 KB, PDF Instructions)
Copyright © 2000, ISTE (International Society for Technology
in Education).
All rights reserved.
| computers, diffusion, higher education, innovations, social network analysis |
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