The social fabric of leadership. A study of teachers’ collaboration networks in primary schools

Este artículo analizará la red social que configura el profesorado en seis centros de educación primaria andaluces, así como la modalidad de distribución del liderazgo que aparece en cada una de las redes. Nuestro propósito al utilizar la metodología de Análisis de Redes Sociales (ARS) en el marco de un proyecto más amplio sobre alcance y patrones de distribución del liderazgo en los centros escolares era conocer mejor la trama de relaciones sociales que sustenta al liderazgo escolar. Para ello elaboramos y administramos al profesorado participante un Cuestionario sobre la Red Social del Centro Escolar (CURSO) en el que se indaga sobre las relaciones docentes en cuatro ámbitos: enseñanza, gestión escolar, convivencia y apoyo individual. Los datos fueron analizados mediante el programa UCINET. El análisis se realizó a partir del grado de centralidad de los actores implicados en cada red, así como de varias propiedades estructurales de las mismas como su densidad, centralización y número y composición de los cliques o grupos participantes. Los resultados nos permitieron identificar diversas configuraciones relevantes del liderazgo escolar: focalizado, múltiple, alternativo y sin-liderazgo. Finalmente se aportan algunas conclusiones sobre la relevancia de la metodología de análisis de redes sociales para el estudio del liderazgoThis paper will analyse the social network emerging from teachers’ relationships in six Andalusian primary schools, and will identify the leadership distribution pattern of each network. Our aim using Social Network Analysis methodology in the framework of a wider research project about patterns and scope of school leadership distribution was to better know the web of social relationships that sustain school leadership. To do this, a School Social Network Questionnaire was designed and administered to the whole staff of the participating schools. The questionnaire included questions regarding four areas: teaching, school management, social relationships and personal support. Data collected were analysed by means of UCINET software. The analysis focused both on the actors’ centrality degree and several structural properties of the networks, such as their density, centralisation, and the number and composition of the cliques or groups participants. The results allowed the research team to identify some relevant patterns of school leadership: focused, multiple, alternative, and leadership void. Finally some conclusions are presented about the relevance of social network analysis in leadership studie

Vigna unguiculata is nodulated in Spain by endosymbionts of Genisteae legumes and by a new symbiovar (vignae) of the genus Bradyrhizobium

14 páginas, 4 figuras. -- The definitive version is available at http://www.elsevier.comVigna unguiculata was introduced into Europe from its distribution centre in Africa, and it is currently being cultivated in Mediterranean regions with adequate edapho-climatic conditions where the slow growing rhizobia nodulating this legume have not yet been studied. Previous studies based on rrs gene and ITS region analyses have shown that Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense and B. elkanii nodulated V. unguiculata in Africa, but these two species were not found in this study. Using the same phylogenetic markers it was shown that V. unguiculata, a legume from the tribe Phaseolae, was nodulated in Spain by two species of group I, B. cytisi and B. canariense, which are common endosymbionts of Genisteae in both Europe and Africa. These species have not been found to date in V. unguiculata nodules in its African distribution centres. All strains from Bradyrhizobium group I isolated in Spain belonged to the symbiovar genistearum, which is found at present only in Genisteae legumes in both Africa and Europe. V. unguiculata was also nodulated in Spain by a strain from Bradyrhizobium group II that belonged to a novel symbiovar (vignae). Some African V. unguiculata-nodulating strains also belonged to this proposed new symbiovar.MHRB is the recipient of a JAE-Doc researcher contract from CSIC co-financed by ERDF.Peer reviewe

La trama social del liderazgo: un estudio sobre las redes de colaboración docente en escuelas primarias

This paper will analyse the social network emerging from teachers� relationships in six Andalusian primary schools, and will identify the leadership distribution pattern of each network. Our aim using Social Network Analysis methodology in the framework of a wider research project about patterns and scope of school leadership distribution was to better know the web of social relationships that sustain school leadership. To do this, a School Social Network Questionnaire was designed and administered to the whole staff of the participating schools. The questionnaire included questions regarding four areas: teaching, school management, social relationships and personal support. Data collected were analysed by means of UCINET software. The analysis focused both on the actors� centrality degree and several structural properties of the networks, such as their density, centralisation, and the number and composition of the cliques or groups participants. The results allowed the research team to identify some relevant patterns of school leadership: focused, multiple, alternative, and leadership void. Finally some conclusions are presented about the relevance of social network analysis in leadership studies.Este artículo analizará la red social que configura el profesorado en seis centros de educación primaria andaluces, así como la modalidad de distribución del liderazgo que aparece en cada una de las redes. Nuestro propósito al utilizar la metodología de Análisis de Redes Sociales (ARS) en el marco de un proyecto más amplio sobre alcance y patrones de distribución del liderazgo en los centros escolares era conocer mejor la trama de relaciones sociales que sustenta al liderazgo escolar. Para ello elaboramos y administramos al profesorado participante un Cuestionario sobre la Red Social del Centro Escolar (CURSO) en el que se indaga sobre las relaciones docentes en cuatro ámbitos: enseñanza, gestión escolar, convivencia y apoyo individual. Los datos fueron analizados mediante el programa UCINET. El análisis se realizó a partir del grado de centralidad de los actores implicados en cada red, así como de varias propiedades estructurales de las mismas como su densidad, centralización y número y composición de los cliques o grupos participantes. Los resultados nos permitieron identificar diversas configuraciones relevantes del liderazgo escolar: focalizado, múltiple, alternativo y sin-liderazgo. Finalmente se aportan algunas conclusiones sobre la relevancia de la metodología de análisis de redes sociales para el estudio del liderazgo