DAVE GRIFFITHS UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING 18 TH SEPTEMBER 2009 Analysing Multiple Types of Connections within a Network

What do networks attempt to measure? Limitations in knowing what to analyse Limitations in researching elites Methods available for understanding structure across spheres of influence

Network analysis analyses networks Network theory is about analysing ties between actors How we define ‘ties’ determines the meaning we generate In many situations, there are multiple types of ‘ties’ available * school friends – classroom, lunchtime or at home How do we prioritise what types of ties are important?

Problem within Elites research Researching elites and power an important sociological concept Useem’s (1984) Inner Circle details how controlling elites know each other How do we define how people ‘know’ each other? * mutual board memberships mask personality clashes * clubs not always frequented * who knows who is invited to each others homes Data we hold might be misleading; most relevant data unobtainable

Problem with interlocking directorates We regard two companies as well-connected if they hold a mutual board member We analyse the network of companies connected by mutual board members Bart’s (1982) Structural Hole theory suggests connections between boards facilitated by one individual are not well-connected Therefore, do mutual board membership ties tell us much about how information can flow through boards of governance? Does information only flow through board meetings?

Research question How do we analyse various modes of relationships between actors, without drowning in data? Which types of ties do we focus upon, and which can be ignored? How do you measure the centre of a network when it alters under every type of tie studied?

Methodology Data collected on 187 UK quangos * more specifically, on their 2,858 directors All information published by quangos and biographical directories coded, including * school and university attended * corporate and charitable directorships * employers * memberships of professional associations and private clubs * institutions awarding honorary degrees Data coded as whether present (as of 01/01/07) or previous 27 different networks constructed linking quangos through these assorted ‘ties’ Density of networks ranged from.04 to.54

Basic overview of networks BoardsComponentK-coreDegreeClosenessDiameter Affiliations to professional bodies (127) Boards (6) Charities (10) Charity - previous (10) Clubs (41) Corporate Advisor94213 (7) Current Educational Links (35) Directorships (5) Editorial6253 (4) Educational (8) Educational - Previous (7) Employment (20) Honorary Degree (38) Membership (17) Other quangos (10) Previous NED (8) Professional (21) Professional - Previous (28) Quango Advisor (20) Quango Advisor - previous (22) Quango - Previous (39) School (15) Social organisations (12) Social organisations – previous (12) University (112) University – grouped colleges (125) Visiting Professor87648 (9)

The problem of merging data

More manageable networks Affiliations Charities Companies School

Interlocking quangocrats

What do we analyse? Multiple levels of connections between quangos Different descriptions lead to important network differences occuring Therefore, research question needs to contextualise what types of connections we measure When we are studying elites and connections, however, all potential ties are important in their own ways A method of identifying the most important types of ties is important

Relationship between degree and centrality

Corporate and quango ties Quangos Companies

Degree and centrality in two-mode

Identifying the most central organisation Component analysis = how many times an institution appears in the largest component Core analysis = how many times an institution appears in the tightest core of the network Therefore, which quangos are consistently in the best positions, and which are consistently in the worse?

Most connected quangos Arts and Humanities Research Council; Audit Commission; Bank of England; BBC; Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council; British Council; British Museum; Channel 4; Culture North West; Economic and Social Research Council; English Heritage; English Partnership; Environment Agency; Health Protection Agency; Heritage Lottery Fund; Higher Education Funding Council; Historic Royal Palaces; Imperial War Museum; Learning and Skills Council; Medical Research Council; National Consumer Council; National Maritime Museum; National Museum of Science and Industry; National Museums Liverpool; National Portrait Gallery; Natural Environment Research Council; North West Development Agency; Northern Lighthouse Board; Nuclear Decommissioning Authority; Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; Quality Improvement Agency; Royal Botanic Gardens Kew; Tate; Victoria and Albert Museum; VisitBritain

Least connected quangos Agricultural Wages Board; British Potato Council; British Shipbuilders; Commission for Patient And Public Involvement; Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority; Culture South West; Energywatch; Engineering Construction Industry Training Board; Firebuy; Football Licensing Authority; Home-Grown Cereals Authority; Horticultural Development Council; Independent Living Funds; Investors in People; LEASE; Living East; Meat and Livestock Commission; Milk Development Council; Oil and Pipelines Agency; Office of the Children’s Commissioner; Parole Board; Partnerships for Schools; Public Lending Right; Remploy; Royal Marines Museum; Royal Navy Submarine Museum; S4C; Security Industry Authority; Stonebridge HAT; Tote; Trinity House; Valuation Tribunal Service.

Most marginalised quangos ComponentsCores Railway Heritage Committee165 for School Leadership164 Legal Services Commission163 Forensic Sciences Service155 Health and Safety Commission/Executive154 Atomic Energy Authority153 Culture North East145 Culture143 Healthcare Commission143 Police Intelligence and Training Organisation143 Royal Mail143 Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation143 National Army Museum135 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority134 London Thames Gateway Development Corporation134 Olympic Lottery Distributor134 Gambling Commission133 Film Council133 Youth Justice Board for and133 Market Trust125 General Social Care Council125 General Teaching Council125 British Waterways124 Sport123 British Hallmarking Council122 Office for Fair Access122 Churches Conservations Trust113 Sport113 Civil Aviation Authority112

Central narrative Corporate interests lowly prioritised within quango networks Little evidence of occupancy of multiple quango boards Consistency amongst other indicators of social connections between directors Ties to the cultural elite creates connections Multiple types of interest important; strongly bonding to one type lessens network position

Conclusions Empirical meaning can be gathered from exploring the full range of potential connections between actors Analysing the differences between networks in terms of impact of degree on centrality can identify which types of connections are atypical If consistent structures can be observed, you can start to create your narrative of what is occurring