Social Influence in Social-Ecological Systems: Collaborative Capacity and Inter-Organizational Networks in the U.S....

Area of Science:

• Environmental governance
• Network analysis
• Social-ecological systems

Background:

• Collaborative governance is key for multi-scalar environmental management.
• Inter-organizational networks are crucial for addressing social-ecological challenges.
• Social influence and contagion effects in these systems are understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between network position/structure and collaborative capacity.
• To test hypotheses on social position, subgroup structure, and social contagion.
• To quantify the link between relational connections and collaborative capacity.

Main Methods:

• Linear network autocorrelation model used.
• Analyzed organizations in a U.S. sagebrush biome conservation network.
• Operationalized social position as network centrality and subgroup structure as modularity.

Main Results:

• Positive relationship found between collaborative capacity and brokerage positions.
• Evidence of a "collaborative capacity" social contagion effect identified.
• Network structure significantly influences collaborative capacity.

Conclusions:

• Bridging organizations and network structures are vital for large-scale environmental management.
• Social influence plays a significant role in developing collaborative capacity.
• Findings advance understanding of network dynamics in conservation.