Changes in Social Capital and Networks: A Study of Community-Based Environmental Management Through a School-Centered Research Program
Item
Title
Changes in Social Capital and Networks: A Study of Community-Based Environmental Management Through a School-Centered Research Program
Abstract/Description
Social network analysis (SNA) is a social science research tool that has not been applied to educational programs. This analysis is critical to documenting the changes in social capital and networks that result from community based K-12 educational collaborations. We review SNA and show an application of this technique in a school-centered, community based environmental monitoring research (CBEMR) program. This CBEMR employs K-12 students, state and local government employees, environmental organization representatives, local businesses, colleges, and community volunteers. As citizen scientists and researchers, collaborators create a database of local groundwater quality to use as a baseline for long-term environmental health management and public education. Past studies have evaluated the reliability of data generated by students acting as scientists, but there have been few studies relating to power dynamics, social capital, and resilience in school-centered CBEMR programs. We use qualitative and quantitative data gathered from a science education program conducted in five states in the northeastern United States. SPSS and NVivo data were derived from semi-structured interviews with thirty-nine participants before and after their participation in the CBEMR. Pajek software was used to determine participant centralities and power brokers within networks. Results indicate that there were statistically significant increases in social capital and resilience in social networks after participation in the school-centered CBEMR program leading to an increased community involvement in environmental health management. Limiting factors to the CBMER were based on the educator/administration relationship.
Author/creator
Date
In publication
Volume
21
Issue
1
Pages
167-182
Resource type
Research/Scholarly Media
Resource status/form
Published Text
Scholarship genre
Empirical
Keywords
Open access/full-text available
Yes
Peer reviewed
Yes
ISSN
1573-1839
Citation
Thornton, T., & Leahy, J. (2012). Changes in Social Capital and Networks: A Study of Community-Based Environmental Management Through a School-Centered Research Program. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 21(1), 167–182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-011-9296-1
Comments
No comment yet! Be the first to add one!