Collecting large personal networks in a representative sample of Dutch women

In this study we report on our experiences with collecting large personal network data (25 alters) from a representative sample of Dutch women. We made use of GENSI, a recently developed tool for network data collection using interactive visual elements that has been shown to reduce respondent burden. A sample of 758 women between the ages of 18 and 40 were recruited through the LISS-panel; a longitudinal online survey of Dutch people. Respondents were asked to name exactly 25 alters, answer sixteen questions about these alters (name interpreter questions), and assess all 300 alter-alter relations. Nearly all (97%) respondents reported on 25 alters. Non-response was minimal: 92% of respondents had no missing values, and an additional 5% had fewer than 10% missing values. Listing 25 alters took 3.5 ± 2.2 (mean ± SD) minutes, and reporting on the ties between these alters took 3.6 ± 1.3 min. Answering all alter questions took longest with a time of 15.2 ± 5.3 min. The majority of respondents thought the questions were clear and easy to answer, and most enjoyed filling in the survey. Collecting large personal networks can mean a significant burden to respondents, but through the use of visual elements in the survey, it is clear that it can be done within reasonable time, with enjoyment and without much non-response

The Impact of Contact Tracing on the Spread of COVID-19: An Egocentric Agent-Based Model

At its core, contact tracing is a form of egocentric network analysis (ENA). One of the biggest obstacles for ENA is informant accuracy (i.e., amount of true contacts identified), which is even more prominent for interaction-based network ties because they often represent episodic relational events, rather than enduring relational states. This research examines the effect of informant accuracy on the spread of COVID-19 through an egocentric, agent-based model. Overall when the average person transmits COVID-19 to 1.62 other people (i.e., the R0), they must be, on average, 75% accurate with naming their contacts. In higher transmission contexts (i.e., transmitting to at least two other people), the results show that multi-level tracing (i.e., contact tracing the contacts) is the only viable strategy. Finally, sensitivity analysis shows that the effectiveness of contact tracing is negatively impacted by the timing and overall percent of asymptomatic cases. Overall, the results suggest that if contact tracing is to be effective, it must be fast, accurate, and accompanied by other interventions like mask-wearing to drive down the average R0

Reprint of: Predicting data quality of proxy reports in egocentric network studies

Egocentric network studies and many general population surveys rely on proxy reports about network contacts of study participants that are asked in name interpreter questions. A central concern is the extent to which proxy reports match the answers these contacts would give themselves if they would be directly interviewed. Based on the theory of survey satisficing, the present research proposes a theoretical framework that allows predicting when proxy reports are likely to match self-reports. Congruence is higher if respondents possess the motivation and ability to answer a proxy question effortfully, and if the task is not too difficult. Moreover, the theory of survey satisficing states that motivation, abilities, and task difficulty are not independent of each other, which provides an explanation for inconsistent findings in the literature. Results from two egocentric network studies study among German adults (N = 756) and among Dutch middle school students (N = 679), in which network contacts were also interviewed, are in line with these hypotheses. Design recommendations for egocentric network studies are provided

A biography of open source software: community participation and individuation of open source code in the context of microfinance NGOs in North Africa and the Middle East

For many, microfinance is about building inclusive financial systems to help the poor gain direct access to financial services. Hundreds of grassroots have specialised in the provision of microfinance services worldwide. Most of them are adhoc organisations, which suffer severe organisational and informational deficiencies. Over the past decades, policy makers and consortia of microfinance experts have attempted to improve their capacity building through ICTs. In particular, there is strong emphasis on open source software (OSS) initiatives, as it is commonly believed that MFIs are uniquely positioned to benefit from the advantages of openness and free access. Furthermore, OSS approaches have recently become extremely popular. The OSS gurus are convinced there is a business case for a purely open source approach, especially across international development spheres. Nonetheless, getting people to agree on what is meant by OSS remains hard to achieve. On the one hand scholarly software research shows a lack of consensus and documents stories in which the OSS meaning is negotiated locally. On the other, the growing literature on ICT-for-international development does not provide answers as research, especially in the microfinance context, presents little empirical scrutiny. This thesis therefore critically explores the OSS in the microfinance context in order to understand itslong-term development and what might be some of the implications for MFIs. Theoretically I draw on the 3rd wave of research within the field of Science and Technology Studies –studies of Expertise and Experience (SEE). I couple the software ‘biography’ approach (Pollock and Williams 2009) with concepts from Simondon’s thesis on the individuation of technical beings (1958) as an integrated framework. I also design a single case study, which is supported by an extensive and longitudinal collection of data and a three-stage approach, including the analysis of sociograms, and email content. This case provides a rich empirical setting that challenges the current understanding of the ontology of software and goes beyond the instrumental views of design, building a comprehensive framework for community participation and software sustainability in the context of the microfinance global industry

Wild networks : the articulation of feedback and evaluation in a creative inter-disciplinary design studio

It is argued that design exists within a collective social network of negotiation, feedback sharing and reflection that is integral to the design process. To encourage this, requires a technological solution that enables designers to access, be aware of, and evaluate the work of others, and crucially, reflect upon how they are socially influenced. However in order to develop software that accurately reveals peer valuation, an understanding is required of the sociality at work in an interdisciplinary design studio. This necessitates an acknowledgement of the complexities of the feedback sharing process that is not only socially intricate in nature but is also potentially unacknowledged. In order to develop software that addresses these issues and makes explicit the dynamics of social interaction at play in a design studio, a ‘wild networks' methodological approach is applied to two case studies, one in an educational setting, the other in a professional practice. The ‘wild networks' approach uses social network analysis, through and in conjunction with, contextual observation and is used to map the network of numerous stakeholders, actors, views and perceptions at work. This methodological technique has resulted in an understanding of social networks within a design studio, how they are shaped and formed and has facilitated the development of prototype network visualisation software based upon the needs and characteristics of real design studios. The findings from this thesis can be interpreted in various ways. Firstly the findings from the case studies and from prototype technological representations enhance previous research surrounding the idea of a social model of design. The research identifies and highlights the importance of evolving peer-to-peer feedback, and the role of visual evaluation within social networks of feedback sharing. The results can also be interpreted from a methodological viewpoint. The thesis demonstrates the use of network analysis and contextual observation in providing an effective way of understanding the interactions of designers in a studio, and as an appropriate way to inform the software design process to support creativity. Finally the results can be interpreted from a software design perspective. The research, through the application of a ‘wild networks' methodological process, identifies key features (roles, location, levels, graphics and time), for inclusion within a socially translucent, network visualisation prototype that is based upon real world research.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Wild networks: the articulation of feedback and evaluation in a creative inter-disciplinary design studio

It is argued that design exists within a collective social network of negotiation, feedback sharing and reflection that is integral to the design process. To encourage this, requires a technological solution that enables designers to access, be aware of, and evaluate the work of others, and crucially, reflect upon how they are socially influenced. However in order to develop software that accurately reveals peer valuation, an understanding is required of the sociality at work in an interdisciplinary design studio. This necessitates an acknowledgement of the complexities of the feedback sharing process that is not only socially intricate in nature but is also potentially unacknowledged. In order to develop software that addresses these issues and makes explicit the dynamics of social interaction at play in a design studio, a ‘wild networks’ methodological approach is applied to two case studies, one in an educational setting, the other in a professional practice. The ‘wild networks’ approach uses social network analysis, through and in conjunction with, contextual observation and is used to map the network of numerous stakeholders, actors, views and perceptions at work. This methodological technique has resulted in an understanding of social networks within a design studio, how they are shaped and formed and has facilitated the development of prototype network visualisation software based upon the needs and characteristics of real design studios. The findings from this thesis can be interpreted in various ways. Firstly the findings from the case studies and from prototype technological representations enhance previous research surrounding the idea of a social model of design. The research identifies and highlights the importance of evolving peer-to-peer feedback, and the role of visual evaluation within social networks of feedback sharing. The results can also be interpreted from a methodological viewpoint. The thesis demonstrates the use of network analysis and contextual observation in providing an effective way of understanding the interactions of designers in a studio, and as an appropriate way to inform the software design process to support creativity. Finally the results can be interpreted from a software design perspective. The research, through the application of a ‘wild networks’ methodological process, identifies key features (roles, location, levels, graphics and time), for inclusion within a socially translucent, network visualisation prototype that is based upon real world research

Utilising a social-ecological approach to understand the barriers and facilitators of weight loss in behavioural weight management programmes

Background: Behavioural weight management programmes are efficacious in improving health and weight outcomes in adults living with obesity. Typically, a target of 5% weight loss is considered “successful” as this weight change has been associated with improvements in health. Despite the successes of these programmes, many participants fail to reach a 5% weight loss. Comparing barriers and facilitators during participation in programmes can highlight differences between those who are “successful” and “unsuccessful”. Research which aims to understand why participants are “unsuccessful” often focuses on programme or intrapersonal factors and does not consider wider contextual and environmental influences on experiences and outcomes. Where there is data on wider contextual influences, the data is often collected at follow-up (potentially introducing hindsight bias) or fails to compare commonalities and differences between “successful” and “unsuccessful” participants. Gathering data on what factors (i.e. internal, and external to the programme) influence success during participation can provide suggestions on how programmes can be improved. Therefore, this research aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators of weight loss for participants in behavioural weight management programmes, and to compare commonalities and differences between “successful” and “unsuccessful” participants, using a social-ecological approach. Methods: The study used a two-phase convergent parallel design mixed methods approach. This involved collecting qualitative and quantitative data concurrently, analysing them independently, and then merging them for interpretation. The first phase was a systematic review of the barriers and facilitators of weight loss and participation in behavioural weight management programmes. The review used a data-based convergent synthesis to combine qualitative and quantitative data for thematic analysis. Quality assessments were used to rank the trustworthiness of the themes identified in the data. The second phase involved a combination of surveys, interviews and personal network data collection with adults living with obesity participating in a 12-week online behavioural weight management programme. The content of the surveys and interviews was informed by the wider literature and systematic review and asked participants the degree to which and how different aspects described in the social-ecological model impacted their weight loss. Questions included intrapersonal, interpersonal, programme, environment, and also COVID-19 topics. Surveys were administered at baseline (n= 129) and the end of the programme (n= 102). Survey data were analysed using a sequential modelling approach to build an explanatory model of “successful” weight loss (i.e. ≥5%). Semi-structured interviews (n=48) were conducted midway through the programme. Data were analysed using a thematic framework approach. The data were coded before participants were grouped as “successful” or “unsuccessful” at achieving a ≥5% weight loss. Following the coding and grouping of participants, the themes were compared to identify commonalities and differences in the barriers and facilitators experienced between groups. Personal network data were collected at each timepoint as part of the surveys or interviews. Personal networks required participants to nominate people they spend time with (i.e. an alter) and answer questions on their attributes and connections to other alters. The personal network data explored the structure of participant networks (e.g. number of alters, density) and characteristics of the alters (e.g. their weight status, whether they offered social support) in the participants' lives and whether they affected success. Following individual analysis of each study, the results were combined into a conceptual map to reveal a comprehensive overview of influential factors of “successful” weight loss. Factors which were identified in each study were then extracted to highlight key contributors to success. Results: The systematic review identified 48 studies, including qualitative, randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental methodologies. In total 39 barriers and 40 facilitators were extracted. Due to the generally high quality of the included studies, most themes were ranked as having high trustworthiness. Important factors included intrapersonal thoughts, feelings, behaviours and health, interpersonal dynamics, the programme materials, setting, and being mindful of participants and the facilities in the wider environment. The survey also identified a range of key influential factors across social-ecological domains. The explanatory model found lower baseline takeaway consumption, more dietary changes made at baseline and the end of the programme, lower levels of anxiety, and higher levels of social support from the household accounted for 29% of the variance in whether participants would successfully reach a 5% weight loss. The thematic framework analysis of the interview data revealed commonalities and distinctions between “successful” and “unsuccessful” participants. Commonalities largely reiterated the themes in the systematic review. Factors only reported by “successful” participants included being motivated by stressors, sourcing pragmatic solutions to barriers, being proactive in learning about risks associated with excess bodyweight and being aware of negative media and public health messaging concerning obesity. Factors only reported by “unsuccessful” participants included having challenging work patterns, disliking their weight target, having difficulty in managing stressors and overcoming barriers, being resistant to social support, and experiencing negative social reactions to their weight managements attempts. The personal network data collected as part of the surveys offered limited insights into the relationship between the network and weight loss due to issues with the data collection methods. The personal networks collected in the interviews did not find any significant relationships between “successful” weight loss and any of the tested variables. The integration of the results from the systematic review, surveys, and interviews highlighted intrapersonal and interpersonal factors as important contributors to “successful” weight loss. These included the adoption of more behavioural changes, receiving higher levels of social support, having higher levels of motivation, self-efficacy, and control, and lower levels of anxiety and depression. Conclusions: This research identified crucial barriers and facilitators for “successful” weight loss in adults living with obesity participating in behavioural weight management programmes. The findings show there are a variety of influential factors across the social-ecological model, and the importance and effect of these vary between participants. Although it’s not feasible to address all challenges, programmes can use these results to harness the best conditions for success within their control (e.g. adding in extra programme components, and considering how to address external challenges). Based on the findings from each study, suggestions for practice, policy and research are offered