NASA Project: Distributed Design Geri Gay, Professor Information Science & Communication Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Social Networks Comprise a set of people, organizations, and other social entities connected by socially meaningful relationships Study of communities in physical environments-can well-known concepts be transferred to virtual

Network analysis Group comprised of highly interconnected members In network analysis researchers measure the degree to which a group is a community Share important resources, provide social support, show reciprocity

Strength of ties Strong ties (family, close friends) Weak ties (share fewer resources and depend less on one another) Can you maintain close relationships online?

Social network analysis Focuses on relations between people rather than on individual characteristics Look for resources that are exchanged in creating and maintaining relations Multiplex ties (many relations) are more intimate, supportive.and durable

SameTime A/V Meeting Network, Fall 2002 Red – Cornell University Blue – Syracuse University

Average Team Centrality (t2). AIDE Apprehension (t2).

Assessment of Teamwork satisfaction (t3): Honesty Support Conflict resolution Expectations toward Distance Learning (t1).

Using Social Network Analysis to inform decisions about group membership Identified teams with –Less initial apprehension toward new technology –High expectations for DL –High evaluations of intra-group communication Important dimensions for New task groups