KDI: Co-evolution of Knowledge Networks and 21st Century Organizational Forms: Computational Modeling and Empirical Testing

本研究将找出导致动态链接的知识网络的形成，维持和解散的因素。 两个核心的研究问题将得到解决：如何不同的知识网络共同发展，随着时间的推移，在多个层次？ 知识网络的中心性、密度、扩散性和其他属性如何影响个人、群体和组织的任务绩效？ 参与者计划采用一种广泛的通用方法来理解知识网络的共同演变。 知识网络可能在各级之间具有重要的共同结构特性，或可能以类似的方式发展。 如果这一点被证明是正确的，那么一个层次上的理论就可以扩展到多个层次上的网络;如果网络的性质出现分歧，那么现有的理论就会被修改，新的理论就会被开发出来。 这项研究所产生的理论，测试的计算模型和开发的统计技术将具有重要的科学意义，超出了本项目的实质性研究成果;它们将适用于其他背景下的人类网络以及社会中的各种知识和网络问题，并将大大加强未来对许多形式的网络的统计分析。

This research will identify the factors that lead to the formation, maintenance and dissolution of dynamically linked knowledge networks. Two core research questions will be addressed: How do diverse knowledge networks co-evolve over time and at multiple levels? How do the centrality, density, diffusion and other properties of knowledge networks at each level affect task performance by individuals, groups and organizations? The PIs plan to adopt a broad, generic approach to understanding the co-evolution of knowledge networks. Knowledge networks may share important common structural properties across levels, or may develop in similar ways. Where that proves to be true, theories at one level can be expanded to apply to networks at several levels; where network properties diverge, existing theories will be modified and new ones developed. The theory generated by this research, the computational models tested and the statistical techniques developed will have important scientific implications beyond the substantive research findings of this project; they will be applicable to human networks in other contexts as well as to a variety of knowledge and network issues in society, and will also significantly enhance future statistical analysis of many forms of networks.