Diffusion of Research Evidence Through School and District Leaders' Ego Networks

• In Event: AERA Graduate Student Research in Progress Roundtable Session Two
  In Roundtable Session: Research Use and Data-Driven Decision Making to Improve Education (Table 12)

Abstract

Recent years have seen an increased push for school improvement to be informed by research-based evidence. Prior research has uncovered the conditions that foster research evidence (RE) use and pointed to the role of influential educators in the diffusion and uptake of research. Using social network analysis theories and methodology, the present study examines longitudinal ego-networks of eight school and district leaders that were identified as "high-end RE users". Through ego-network maps and measures, we aim to better understand the conditions that aid in the development of high-end RE users and the diffusion of RE across an educational system. Preliminary findings suggest the role of network positionality rather than individual characteristics alone that may impact later RE use and influence. Implications for this research may include providing structures or developing norms around RE use that attend to the network positionality of high-end RE users.

Author

• Christina C. Leal, University of Rochester
  Presenting Author