1. Networks Among Black Studies Professors Fabio Rojas Department of Sociology Indiana University

2. Black Studies: Discipline in Formation For the last five years, I’ve been working on the evolution of Black Studies programs. For the last five years, I’ve been working on the evolution of Black Studies programs. See my conditionally accepted book manuscript: From Black Power to Black Studies. (Johns Hopkins Press) See my conditionally accepted book manuscript: From Black Power to Black Studies. (Johns Hopkins Press) Articles at www.fabiorojas.com Articles at www.fabiorojas.com The history of Black Studies allows us to answer important questions about the academy’s response to social movements. The history of Black Studies allows us to answer important questions about the academy’s response to social movements.

3. Discipline in Formation The evolution of Black Studies also provides data on the formation of new disciplines. The evolution of Black Studies also provides data on the formation of new disciplines. How is a new discipline created from other disciplines? How is a new discipline created from other disciplines?

4. The Hypothesis Black Studies is an “interdiscipline” Black Studies is an “interdiscipline” What is an interdiscipline? What is an interdiscipline? An academic community that is strongly integrated with other disciplines. An academic community that is strongly integrated with other disciplines. In contrast, a discipline is self-contained. In contrast, a discipline is self-contained.

5. Let Me Elaborate a Little If you look at central disciplines, such as English or philosophy, you notice that they have their own academic units, elite training (PhD programs) and certification (the journals and presses). If you look at central disciplines, such as English or philosophy, you notice that they have their own academic units, elite training (PhD programs) and certification (the journals and presses). In contrast, the interdiscipline is not socially closed – it either teaches, trains, or certifies in other disciplines. It has a distinct institutional identity, but is deeply rooted in other fields. In contrast, the interdiscipline is not socially closed – it either teaches, trains, or certifies in other disciplines. It has a distinct institutional identity, but is deeply rooted in other fields.

6. What are some examples? Disciplines: English, philosophy, civil engineering. Disciplines: English, philosophy, civil engineering. Interdisciplines: Black Studies, public policy, cognitive science, American studies Interdisciplines: Black Studies, public policy, cognitive science, American studies Research communities: network studies, artificial intelligence, medieval studies. Research communities: network studies, artificial intelligence, medieval studies.

7. How am I going to show that Black Studies is an “interdiscipline”? Use publicly available data on Black Studies professors Use publicly available data on Black Studies professors Analyze survey data that I collected. Analyze survey data that I collected. This data will show that Black Studies recruits and is socially connected to other disciplines. This data will show that Black Studies recruits and is socially connected to other disciplines.

8. Institutional Data I’ll keep this brief so I can get to the network data… I’ll keep this brief so I can get to the network data… Black Studies has some disciplinary features: Black Studies has some disciplinary features: Journals, degree programs, and even a few Ph.D. programs. Journals, degree programs, and even a few Ph.D. programs.

9. But it is interdisciplinary Most professors recruited from other fields. Most professors recruited from other fields. They tend to publish in other disciplinary journals. They tend to publish in other disciplinary journals. They teach many, many courses in departments other than Black Studies. They teach many, many courses in departments other than Black Studies.

10. Let’s Get to Networks You can look also look at the informal structure of an academic group. You can look also look at the informal structure of an academic group. One would hypothesize that disciplines would be more socially open than other academic groupings. One would hypothesize that disciplines would be more socially open than other academic groupings.

11. Disciplines and Social Closure Members of an academic discipline should have common training, institutional histories, and ideology. Therefore, they should be more likely to cooperate with each other, than outsiders. Members of an academic discipline should have common training, institutional histories, and ideology. Therefore, they should be more likely to cooperate with each other, than outsiders. The interdiscipline, in contrast, is socially connected to other academic communities. The interdiscipline, in contrast, is socially connected to other academic communities.

12. Let’s visualize it! Discipline Interdiscipline Black Studies

13. The Data: The Survey of Issues in Africana Studies In 2004-2005, every single professor of Black Studies received an invitation to participate. Check it out ! www.africanasurvey.indiana.edu In 2004-2005, every single professor of Black Studies received an invitation to participate. Check it out ! www.africanasurvey.indiana.edu 200 professors participated in the study. 200 professors participated in the study. Survey included a battery of network items. Survey included a battery of network items.

14. The network items Respondents were asked the following questions: Respondents were asked the following questions: Important professional matters Important professional matters Career decision Career decision Scholarly feedback Scholarly feedback Conflict Conflict

15. Some Descriptive Statistics 140 people provided information about “importance” network 140 people provided information about “importance” network Average # of ties in “importance” network is 9.63 Average # of ties in “importance” network is 9.63 Almost 1400 people mentioned. Almost 1400 people mentioned.

16. First Question How often do Black Studies professors contact others in their own program to discuss “important” matters? How often do Black Studies professors contact others in their own program to discuss “important” matters? Answer #1: 15% of alters were in the same program. Answer #1: 15% of alters were in the same program. Answer #2: Average ego-neighborhood has 9.6 people in it, 8.1 are outside the person’s program. Answer #2: Average ego-neighborhood has 9.6 people in it, 8.1 are outside the person’s program.

17. Second Question How often do Black Studies professors contact other Black Studies professors in regard to important matters? How often do Black Studies professors contact other Black Studies professors in regard to important matters? Answer #1: 25% of alters are not Black Studies professors at all. Answer #1: 25% of alters are not Black Studies professors at all. Answer #2: Average person has 9.6 in neighborhood, 7.13 are not in any program. Answer #2: Average person has 9.6 in neighborhood, 7.13 are not in any program.

18. Let’s investigate a little more… Who are the most central Black Studies actors? Who are the most central Black Studies actors? Who are the professors most likely to be nominated by their peers in this survey? Who are the professors most likely to be nominated by their peers in this survey? Many people mentioned once or twice… but a few stood out. Many people mentioned once or twice… but a few stood out.

19. The Afrocentric center Dr. Molefi Asante – former chair of theTemple Univeristy Black Studies program. PhD in communications, prolific author, but most importantly – creator of the field’s first PhD program and inventor of Afro- centric theory. Intellectual prominence corresponds with social centrality.

20. It doesn’t stop there… Other highly central scholars tend to be afro-centric. Other highly central scholars tend to be afro-centric. Example: #3 in centrality is Maulana Karenga of CSU Northridge. Founder of the US organization and prominent Black Nationalist of the 1970s. Example: #3 in centrality is Maulana Karenga of CSU Northridge. Founder of the US organization and prominent Black Nationalist of the 1970s.

21. What about Skip Gates? Some universities have tried to improve their Black Studies Programs by hiring highly visible mainstream scholars like Henry Louis Gates, Jr. So how central is he in the Black Studies network? Some universities have tried to improve their Black Studies Programs by hiring highly visible mainstream scholars like Henry Louis Gates, Jr. So how central is he in the Black Studies network? Only mentioned once by another scholar, who works at a research university.

22. Let’s think about that… The Survey picked up about 25% of the total population and participation was random. The Survey picked up about 25% of the total population and participation was random. The founder of the afrocentric movement is on personal terms with probably 4-5% of the entire profession. The founder of the afrocentric movement is on personal terms with probably 4-5% of the entire profession.

23. Sources of the Network We’ve gleaned some vital information about Black Studies professors and their connections. We learned some important things about the field’s social structure. We’ve gleaned some vital information about Black Studies professors and their connections. We learned some important things about the field’s social structure. What factors might explain an individual’s # of ties within the profession? What about ratio of “in” ties to “out” ties? What factors might explain an individual’s # of ties within the profession? What about ratio of “in” ties to “out” ties?

24. Hypothesis 1: Demography We expect some gender & racial differences. We expect some gender & racial differences. We also expect time since PhD to have an effect – people who have been in the field longer have had more chance to develop networks within the field. We also expect time since PhD to have an effect – people who have been in the field longer have had more chance to develop networks within the field.

25. Hypothesis 2: Disciplinary Training & Institutional Effect It might also be possible that disciplinary training might have an effect. It might also be possible that disciplinary training might have an effect. Maybe specific disciplines encourage a more interdisciplinary orientation, leading to many more out ties. Maybe specific disciplines encourage a more interdisciplinary orientation, leading to many more out ties. Public/private & research/non-research effects. Public/private & research/non-research effects.

26. Hypothesis 3: Self-selection People who believe in a self-contained Black Studies field will be more likely to have ties inside the field. People who believe in a self-contained Black Studies field will be more likely to have ties inside the field. Call this the “afro-centric” effect. Call this the “afro-centric” effect.

27. Data Dependent variable: # of ties within Black Studies & proportion of all ties within Black Studies. Dependent variable: # of ties within Black Studies & proportion of all ties within Black Studies. Demography: gender, race, year of Ph.D. Demography: gender, race, year of Ph.D. Discipline: Area of PhD Discipline: Area of PhD Self selection: measure of belief that Black Studies has its own ideas Self selection: measure of belief that Black Studies has its own ideas

28. Summary of Poisson Models Variable Ego Nbhd Ties in Ties out Male Yes: + No BlackNoNoNo PhD Year No Yes: + No Social Sci. NoNoNo PublicNoNoNo ResearchNo Yes: + No Afrocentric Yes: - NoYes:- MethodsNoNoNo Note: “Yes” means significant effect. Poission regression results. Alpha=.05. Complete Data on about 130 respondents.

29. Summary of OLS Model Variable Ratio of In/Total MaleNo BlackNo PhD Year Yes: + Social Sci. No PublicNo Research Yes: + Afrocentric MethodsNo

30. Summary Research question 1: Is Black Studies an “interdiscipline?” Research question 1: Is Black Studies an “interdiscipline?” Yes – when you measure networks, most ties are from Black Studies to non-black Studies. Yes – when you measure networks, most ties are from Black Studies to non-black Studies.

31. Summary Research Question #2: What factors explain Black Studies networks? Research Question #2: What factors explain Black Studies networks? Answer: Gender plays a pretty big role. Recent PhD’s have bigger “inside” networks. Same for profs at research schools. Answer: Gender plays a pretty big role. Recent PhD’s have bigger “inside” networks. Same for profs at research schools. Afrocentric orientation correlates with smaller networks which have few outside ties. Afrocentric orientation correlates with smaller networks which have few outside ties.

32. Future Research Do these results holds for other types of ties? Do these results holds for other types of ties? Explore further the effect of Afrocentric ideology on field’s social structure. Explore further the effect of Afrocentric ideology on field’s social structure. Link network structure to observable behavior. Link network structure to observable behavior.