ERIC Number: EJ931005
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1499-4046
EISSN: N/A
Evaluating Form and Function of Regional Partnerships: Applying Social Network Analysis to the "Network for a Healthy California", 2001-2007
Gregson, Jennifer; Sowa, Marcy; Flynn, Heather Kohler
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, v43 n4 suppl 2 pS67-S74 Jul-Aug 2011
Objective: To evaluate the partnership structure of the "Network for a Healthy California" ("Network"), a social marketing program, from 2001-2007, to determine if California's program was able to establish and maintain partnerships that (1) provided access to a local audience, (2) facilitated regional collaboration, (3) included new and nontraditional partners, and (4) strengthened regional networks over time, even with significant administrative changes in 2003 and 2006. Design: An outcome evaluation using 5 years of cross-sectional data. Setting: Data drawn from annual progress reports. Participants: Funded local agencies and regional lead agencies. Main Outcome Measures: Regional sociograms offered a visual assessment. Social network statistics (fragmentation and density) were calculated from sociogram data for changes over time. Analysis: A social network analysis and time-series regression analysis. Results: Sociograms demonstrated that more counties participated, more local agencies worked together, and networks were more integrated in 2007 than in 2001. Increased cohesion of "Network" partners was demonstrated by decreased fragmentation, and reaching out to new and existing partners was demonstrated by density. Conclusions and Implications: The "Network" developed in a way consistent with program goals. Social network analysis offers great potential for partnership and systems research. (Contains 2 tables and 3 figures.)
Descriptors: Network Analysis, Marketing, Counties, Social Networks, Nutrition Instruction, Health Promotion, Health Programs, Public Health, Program Evaluation, Agency Cooperation, Regional Cooperation, State Programs
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A