Browsing by Subject "social networks"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Mapping social networks among crystallographers in South Africa
    (Academic Conferences Ltd., 2008) Smith, Gretchen
    The author adopts the premise that technological innovation, a critical factor in the long-term economic growth of any country, can only function successfully within a social environment that provides relevant knowledge and information inputs into the innovative process. This is dependent on the efficient transfer and communication of knowledge and information which in turn relates to the amount and quality of interaction among scientists and technologists. These factors prompted a research project that used social network analysis techniques to investigate knowledge exchange and to map the knowledge network structure and communication practices of a group of scientists engaged with crystallographic research. This paper is based on this research project. The findings provide clear evidence of a strong social network structure among crystallographers in South Africa. A core nucleus of prominent, well connected and interrelated crystallographers constituted the central network of scientists that provided the main impetus to keep the network active. This eminent group of crystallographers were not only approached far more frequently for information and advice than any of their colleagues, but they also frequently initiated interpersonal and formal information communication acts. It was clear that this core group had achieved a standard of excellence in their work, were highly productive; very visible in their professional community and they generally played a pivotal role in the social network. They generally maintained a high professional profile in the crystallography community and within the general field of science, published profusely, and generally emerged as the archetypal sociometric stars in their field. It is thus clear that high productivity, professional involvement, innovation capacity and network connectivity are intricately interwoven. The crystallographers' work environment and concomitant work structure clearly affected network interaction. Working in a group structure stimulated network interaction, professional activity and productivity. A further benefit was that the leaders of these groups generally assumed gatekeeper roles that facilitated networking and ensured the importation and interpretation of new information and knowledge. It was clear that social networks operate more effectively in areas, such as Gauteng, where a sufficient number of scientists were amassed.
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    Network diversity structure, closeness and innovation of South African micro-entrepreneurs
    (2014) Griffin-EL, Eliada Wosu
    This study qualitatively explores the embeddedness of the innovation process of South African microbusinesses by investigating how small local entrepreneurs in the Greater Johannesburg area utilise their social networks to source entrepreneurial value. A comparative grounded theory analysis enabled the original conceptualisation of Network Diversity Structure and formulates the central proposition that the network dimensions of diversity and closeness enable the innovation process among manufacturing microbusinesses more so than in service microbusinesses. Furthermore, the study proposes that both a structural and relational/experiential dimension of closeness, enables micro-entrepreneurs to create meaning and knowledge collaboratively with other entrepreneurs and actors. This socially facilitated process of exchanging ideas, information, and resources is central to the innovation process of firms traditionally limited by both their size and historical social institutions.
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    Social networks, bargaining power within couples, and maternal health care in Tanzania
    (2015) Mukong, Alfred Kechia; Burns, Justine
    This thesis focuses on the use of maternal health services and child health in Tanzania. The main focus is on how these issues relate to social networks and bargaining power within couples. These issues are interrelated and are discussed in three essays. The first essay investigates the impact of information externalities in social networks on the use of antenatal services. Particular emphasis is placed on the extent to which the probability of early antenatal check-up and antenatal completion are affected by social networks. Adopting an econometric technique that minimises the problem of omitted variable bias, the analysis suggests that these network effects increase the probability of antenatal care completion by an additional 6 to 35 percent, and may be as high as 59 percent. The study further finds that without adequate control of omitted variables, the network impact would be understated. It is also evident that failure to control for individual and household observable characteristics overstates the impact of networks. Results from the two approaches used in this study confirm that irrespective of the definition of social network, having a high quality contacts increase the probability of utilising maternal health services. The second essay examines the effect of bargaining power within couples on the probability of delivering in a health facility (public and private), as opposed to a home birth. It further investigates the effect of bargaining on the probability of health care provider choice at childbirth using a multinomial nested logit. Evidence suggests that cooperation within couples in decision-making, female discretion over household resources, and freedom from domestic violence increases the probability of childbirth in a facility, as opposed to home. The study finds that a woman's influence on service use varies if she is better educated than her partner. In addition, while cooperation in household decision and the incidence of domestic violence significantly affect private facility use, female discretion over household resources has a strong effect on public facility choice. Finally, antenatal completion, health knowledge, and maternal specific factors increase the probability of delivering in a public and private facility. ii The third essay empirically explores the contribution of intra-household bargaining, to the rural-urban gap in child nutrition. The study analyses the effect of parental bargaining indicators (cooperation in household decisions, the incidence domestic violence and discretion over household resources) on the probability of child stunting in both rural and urban areas. The essay contributes to the literature by demonstrating empirically that differences in intra-household bargaining increase the rural-urban gap in child health. It further contributes to the literature by correcting for possible sample selection bias. The results suggest that the significant effects of household bargaining indicators on child stunting in Tanzania are mainly from the rural and not the urban population. It provides evidence that weak bargaining power within couples in rural areas account for 5 percent of the rural-urban gap in child nutrition. The contribution reduces to 4 percent after correcting for sample selection bias. The results also suggest that failure to adequately correct for selection bias leads to a substantial underestimation of the overall rural-urban gap in child nutrition by 11 percent.