Doctoral Dissertation Research - Linking Networks to Individual Performance: Theory, Methods, and Causality

尽管强有力的实证数据证明了网络变量与组织结果之间的关联，但缺乏将个人的网络位置与个人层面的结果联系起来的因果解释。本项目考察个体行为者与网络绩效之间的关系，以开发有效的模型来衡量网络的形成及其在组织环境中促进或抑制成功的因果影响。该项目超越了传统的组织网络研究，涉及单个组织，调查了一个中等规模公立学区25所学校的500多名教师和管理人员的社会结构。主要目标是更好地理解网络结构的前因和后果。网络前因模型将被设计用来研究网络凝聚的过程。个人构念心理学和角色库网格将被用来建立一套假定与二元选择相关的个人构念。将发展网络后果模型来理解网络变化影响个人和集体绩效的机制。将多层次建模和社会网络分析相结合，捕捉嵌套在学校的教师的节点和整体网络度量之间的交互效应。预计网络先行和网络后果模型将共同阐明个人构念、个人属性、网络位置和绩效之间复杂的相互依赖关系。该项目还将提高人们对教师如何互动以探索他们的手艺和交流知识的理解。我们会与区内所有感兴趣的学校举办工作坊，讨论研究结果和政策影响，并在网上提供由研究所得的网络模型和方法，以及相应的R代码。作为博士论文研究改进奖，提供支持，使有前途的学生建立一个强大的，独立的研究生涯。

Despite strong empirical data demonstrating the association between network variables and organizational outcomes, there is a lack of causal explanation linking an individual's network position to individual-level outcomes. This project examines the relationships between individual actors and network performance to develop valid models of measuring the formation of networks and their causal impact in facilitating or inhibiting success in organizational environments. The project moves beyond traditional organizational network research involving a single organization to investigate the social structure among more than 500 teachers and administrators from 25 schools in a mid-size public school district. The primary objective is to better understand the antecedents and the consequences of network structure. The network antecedent models will be designed to investigate the processes by which networks cohere. Personal construct psychology and the role repertory grid will be utilized to establish a set of personal constructs presumed to be associated with dyadic choice. The network consequence models will be developed to understand the mechanisms by which network variation influences individual and collective performance. Multilevel modeling and social network analysis will be combined to capture the interaction effects between nodal and whole network measures of teachers nested in schools.It is anticipated that the network antecedent and network consequence models together will clarify the complex interdependencies between personal constructs, individual attributes, network position, and performance. The project also will improve understanding of how teachers interact to explore their craft and exchange knowledge. Workshops will be held with all interested schools in the district to discuss the research findings and policy implications, and the network models and methods derived from this research as well as the corresponding R code will be made available online. As a Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement award, support is provided to enable a promising student to establish a strong, independent research career.