We examine the implications of a network approach for the empirical analysis of empowerment, acculturation and sense of community. Network analysis (a) contributes with a multilevel examination of community processes, (b) allows the evaluation of multiple belongings, determining overlapping communities and sub-communities, and (c) serves for analysing the relationship of communities with their immediate environment.

1. Augmenting Theory in Community Psychology
with a Social Network Perspective
Social Network Analysis and the
Psychology of Social and
Community Interventions
Isidro Maya-Jariego, Daniel Holgado & Ignacio
Ramos
Departamento de Psicología Social
(Universidad de Sevilla)

2. Theoretical context
Network analysis and communities
 We examine the implications of a network
approach for the empirical analysis of
sense of community and acculturation.
 Network analysis
a. Contributes with a multilevel examination of
community processes,
b. Allows the evaluation of multiple belongings,
determining overlapping communities and sub-
communities, and
c. Serves for analyzing the relationship of
communities with their immediate
environment. 4cipc BCN-2012 2

3. From networks to communities…
Detecting communities in networks
 Community structure refers to the
occurrence of groups of nodes in a
network that are more densely
connected internally than with the rest
of the network.
◦ Clustering, Partitioning, Segmenting, etc.
◦ From hierarchical agglomeration to edge
betweenness removal (Girvan-Newman,
2002).
 Community detection algorithms reveals
significant patterns of interaction in a
network. 4cipc BCN-2012 3

4. Example
Hyperlinks among the pages of a website
 M.E.J. Newman, M. Girvan. Finding and evaluating
community structure in networks. Phys. Rev. E, 69 (2)
(2004). 4cipc BCN-2012 4

5. From networks to communities…
Models of core/periphery structure
 It is frequent to observe networks
compound by a dense, cohesive core
and a sparse, unconnected periphery
(Borgatti & Everett, 2000).
◦ The core is comprised of key members of the
community that develop strong links among
them.
◦ The periphery is weakly connected and they
may be new members, outsiders, or bridges
to other communities.
4cipc BCN-2012 5

6. Example
Emergent online community
 V. Krebs. (2005) http://orgnet.com
4cipc BCN-2012 6

7. From networks to communities…
Personal network visualizations to elicit
communities
 It is difficult for individuals to list the
communities where they participate…
 Personal network visualizations
generates three times more communities
than spontaneous recall.
 Groups and communities are
interrelated. Groups seems to be
mediating structures to participate in
(and to identify) communities.
4cipc BCN-2012 7

8. Example
Groups and communities in personal
network
 Cachia, R. & Maya Jariego, I. (2010). Eliciting communities from personal
network visualisations: ties, groups and communities. XXX INSNA
Conference. 4cipc BCN-2012 8

9. Augmenting theory
Implications for researching communities
 Sense of community research has
focused in the psychological experience
of community.
 The contribution of a network approach:
◦ It focuses in social interaction.
◦ It assumes that the boundaries of a
community are diffuse, and the position of
the individual in the community is relevant.
◦ Finally, individuals may belong to different
overlapped communities simultaneously.
4cipc BCN-2012 9

10. Networks and acculturation
Assessing acculturation of individuals
 International migration leads to changes in
social integration, in the structure of the social
network, and in the support functions that
result from them
◦ Less structural embeddeness
◦ More relational mobility
◦ Less availability of social support
◦ Concentration of social support functions
◦ Re-building the size, structural and functional
dynamics of personal networks
◦ Acculturation: more heterogeneity and less
cohesion, reorganization of support functions...
4cipc BCN-2012 10

11. Example
Competition between active relationships
Expatried
Origen country compatriots Spain
Territorial Relational Territorial
Alcalá University students in Seville
Seville
 Maya-Jariego, I. & Armitage, N. (2007). Multiple
Senses of Community in Migration and Commuting:
the Interplay Between Time, Space and Relations.
International Sociology. 4cipc BCN-2012 11

12. Example
Average betweenness and other
indicators of acculturation
 Maya Jariego, I. & Holgado, D. (2009). Geographical
mobility and personal transitions: Covariation of
personal networks and social networks data. ECRP
Meeting, Oxford. 4cipc BCN-2012 12

13. Example
Inverse relationship between structural
cohesion and ethnic diversity
 Domínguez, S. & Maya-Jariego, I. (2008).
Acculturation of Host Individuals: Immigrants and
Personal Networks. AJCP.
4cipc BCN-2012 13

14. Augmenting theory
Implications for researching acculturation
 Acculturation has focused in the
personal experience of acculturation.
 The contribution of a network approach:
◦ It focuses in social interaction.
◦ It avoids social desirability biases.
◦ It is possible to model the topology of
intergroup contact,
◦ As well as deploying an interactive model of
acculturation.
 “Method that capture context” (Luke,
2005). 4cipc BCN-2012 14

15. Laboratorio de Redes Personales y
Comunidades
http://personal.us.es/isidromj
Isidro Maya Jariego <isidromj@us.es>
Ignacio Ramos <ignacioramosvidal@hotmail.com>
Daniel Holgado <daniel.holgado@gmail.com>
4cipc BCN-2012 15