La explicación a través de la visualización de redes

Las evaluaciones de causa y efecto, configuraciones y dinámicas están en el corazón de nuestro pensamiento y nuestras explicaciones (Tufte 1997: 9). Aunque se han desarrollado muchos métodos para dichas evaluaciones, que son utilizados en nuestra práctica científica diaria, es frecuente que la visualización no sea considerada uno de ellos. En este artículo, defendemos en primer lugar que ésto se debe a la práctica habitual de visualizar los datos en lugar de la información contenida en los mismos. En segundo lugar, repasamos una serie de principios para la visualización efectiva. Tercero, valoramos algunos ejemplos específicos de la visualización de redes basada en estos principios. Cuarto, demostramos que la visualización de información aplicada a redes no sólo es un posible método para el análisis de configuraciones, dinámicas y causas, sino que, además, tiene un valor añadido en comparación con otros métodos. Finalmente, concluimos con algunas implicaciones para la visualización de redes sociales.Assessments of configurations, dynamics, and cause and effect are at the heart of our thinking and explanation. Although numerous methods for such assessments have been developed and are being used in our daily scientific practice, visualization is frequently not considered one of them. In this paper we will first argue that this is due to the common practice of visualizing data rather than the information contained in it; secondly, we address a number of principles for effective visualization; thirdly, we assess specific examples for the visualization of networks on these principles; fourthly, we demonstrate that information visualization applied to networks is not only a possible method to analyze configurations, dynamics, and cause but, moreover, that it has an added value compared to other methods. We conclude with implications for the visualization of social networks

La explicación a través de la visualización de redes

Assessments of configurations, dynamics, and cause and effect are at the heart of our thinking and explanation. Although numerous methods for such assessments have been developed and are being used in our daily scientific practice, visualization is frequently not considered one of them. In this paper we will first argue that this is due to the common practice of visualizing data rather than the information contained in it; secondly, we address a number of principles for effective visualization; thirdly, we assess specific examples for the visualization of networks on these principles; fourthly, we demonstrate that information visualization applied to networks is not only a possible method to analyze configurations, dynamics, and cause but, moreover, that it has an added value compared to other methods. We conclude with implications for the visualization of social networks.Las evaluaciones de causa y efecto, configuraciones y dinámicas están en el corazón de nuestro pensamiento y nuestras explicaciones (Tufte 1997: 9). Aunque se han desarrollado muchos métodos para dichas evaluaciones, que son utilizados en nuestra práctica científica diaria, es frecuente que la visualización no sea considerada uno de ellos. En este artículo, defendemos en primer lugar que ésto se debe a la práctica habitual de visualizar los datos en lugar de la información contenida en los mismos. En segundo lugar, repasamos una serie de principios para la visualización efectiva. Tercero, valoramos algunos ejemplos específicos de la visualización de redes basada en estos principios. Cuarto, demostramos que la visualización de información aplicada a redes no sólo es un posible método para el análisis de configuraciones, dinámicas y causas, sino que, además, tiene un valor añadido en comparación con otros métodos. Finalmente, concluimos con algunas implicaciones para la visualización de redes sociales

Passed the Age of Puberty: Organizational Networks as a Way to Get Things Done in the Health Field Comment on “Evaluating Global Health Partnerships: A Case Study of a Gavi HPV Vaccine Application Process in Uganda

In this commentary I will demonstrate that the case study of Uganda’s Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine application partnership provides an excellent example of widening our lens by evaluating the successful HPV vaccine coverage from a network-centric perspective. That implies that the organizational network is seen as the locus of production and that network theories become indispensable to analyze the situation at hand. The case study is, as said, an excellent example of how this can be done and my comments have to be read as an endorsement and a broadening of the discussion of what Carol Kamya and colleagues have presented. It is demonstrated that an organizational network approach can be considered a serious and mature way in understanding public health issue

Ex ante knowledge for infectious disease outbreaks:Introducing the organizational network governance approach

The core question addressed is to what extent ex ante knowledge can be made available from a network governance perspective to deal with a crisis such as an infectious disease outbreak. Such outbreaks are often characterized by a lack of information and knowledge, changing and unforeseen conditions as well as a myriad of organizations becoming involved on the one hand but also organizations which do not become adequately involved. We introduce the organizational network governance approach as an exploratory approach to produce useful ex ante information for limiting the transmission of a virus and its impact. We illustrate the usefulness of our approach introducing two fictitious but realistic outbreak scenarios: the West Nile Virus (WNV), which is transmitted via mosquitos and the outbreak of a New Asian Coronavirus (NAC) which is characterized by human to human transmission. Both viruses can lead to serious illnesses or even death as well as large health care and economic costs. Our organizational network governance approach turns out to be effective in generating information to produce recommendations for strengthening the organizational context in order to limit the transmission of a virus and its impact. We also suggest how the organizational network governance approach could be further develope

Values underpinning integrated, people-centred health services:Similarities and differences among actor groups across Europe

Introduction: In addition to the functional aspects of healthcare integration, an understanding of its normative aspects is needed. This study explores the importance of values underpinning integrated, people-centred health services, and examines similarities and differences among the values prioritised by actors across Europe. Methods: Explorative cross-sectional design with quantitative analysis. A questionnaire of 18 values was conducted across Europe. A total of 1,013 respondents indicated the importance of each of the values on a nine-point scale and selected three most important values. Respondents were clustered in four actor groups, and countries in four European sub-regions. Results: The importance scores of values ranged from 7.62 to 8.55 on a nine-point scale. Statistically significant differences among actor groups were found for ten values. Statistically significant differences across European sub-regions were found for six values. Our analysis revealed two clusters of values: ‘people related’ and ‘governance and organisation’. Discussion and conclusion: The study found that all 18 values in the set are considered important by the respondents. Additionally, it revealed distinctions in emphasis among the values prioritised by actor groups and across sub-regions. The study uncovered two clusters of values that contribute to a conceptually based definition of integrated, people-centred health services

Dinocampus coccinellae as a parasitoid of the invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis in Europe

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