Investigating Networks of Professional Interaction in the Academic Research Community

• In Event: Roundtable Session 20
  In Roundtable Session: Networks and Organizations: Interactions and Integration

Abstract

We often argue that "the objectivity of science derives from the … norms of the professional community of scientists" (NRC, 2002); however, little empirical research has characterized such behaviors. We conduct a social network analysis on scholarly interactions that span methodological approaches and research specializations. We administered questionnaires to faculty in all research-focused disciplinary units in a university. The first part of the survey requests each member to identify colleagues with whom they interact, the frequency of interaction, and whether they share a research focus. The second part of the survey captures salient indicators of organizational climate. We calculate network measures and aggregate the climate indicators to the disciplinary level to analyze the relationship between the two dimensions.

Authors

• Kevin Crouse, Rutgers University - New Brunswick/Piscataway

• Jeanette Joyce, Rutgers University

• Veronica Cavera, American Water Works Association