The DOI matches its Crossref record; 40 of the 40 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Social network diagnostics: a tool for monitoring group interventions
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Many behavioral interventions designed to improve health outcomes are delivered in group settings. To date, however, group interventions have not been evaluated to determine if the groups generate interaction among members and how changes in group interaction may affect program outcomes at the individual or group level. METHODS: This article presents a model and practical tool for monitoring how social ties and social structure are changing within the group during program implementation. The approach is based on social network analysis and has two phases: collecting network measurements at strategic intervention points to determine if group dynamics are evolving in ways anticipated by the intervention, and providing the results back to the group leader to guide implementation next steps. This process aims to initially increase network connectivity and ultimately accelerate the diffusion of desirable behaviors through the new network. This article presents the Social Network Diagnostic Tool and, as proof of concept, pilot data collected during the formative phase of a childhood obesity intervention. RESULTS: The number of reported advice partners and discussion partners increased during program implementation. Density, the number of ties among people in the network expressed as a percentage of all possible ties, increased from 0.082 to 0.182 (p < 0.05) in the advice network, and from 0.027 to 0.055 (p > 0.05) in the discussion network. CONCLUSIONS: The observed two-fold increase in network density represents a significant shift in advice partners over the intervention period. Using the Social Network Tool to empirically guide program activities of an obesity intervention was feasible.
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In the citing paper
“At two intervals during the intervention (weeks 3 and 6), network data were collected and the results of the network analysis were given to the interventionist and provided specific advice on activities to use to increase group cohesiveness.”
From Social Network Analysis for Program Implementation (2015) · cites this paper as [70]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn the citing paper
“These investigators worked with a 12-week program designed to improve lifestyle choices for parents in underserved communities.”
From Social Network Analysis for Program Implementation (2015) · cites this paper as [70]
In the citing paper
“Gesell and colleagues [70] introduced the concept of network diagnostics in which network data are collected and analyzed during program implementation in order to provide diagnostic information useful to the program’s implementation during its delivery.”
From Social Network Analysis for Program Implementation (2015) · cites this paper as [70]
In the citing paper
“We know of only one study, Gesell and others [70], that has used network data during the implementation stage so clearly more experience is needed to determine whether networks can be used to assist program implementation.”
From Social Network Analysis for Program Implementation (2015) · cites this paper as [70]
In the citing paper
“The theory guiding the intervention was that increased social cohesion during the group sessions would improve information seeking and social support among group members, which would translate into better outcomes.”
From Social Network Analysis for Program Implementation (2015) · cites this paper as [70]
In the citing paper
“The recommendations regarding appropriate metrics and thresholds for these metrics were based primarily on experiences with one pilot study, and much work remains to be done in this area.”
From Social Network Analysis for Program Implementation (2015) · cites this paper as [70]
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Social Network Analysis for Program Implementation
Valente, T. W., Palinkas, L. A., Czaja, S., Chu, K.-H., & Brown, C. H. (2015) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0131712 · Cited by 332
Self-citationWaterlander, W. E., Pinzon, A. L., Verhoeff, A. P., den Hertog, K., Altenburg, T. M., Dijkstra, S. C., Halberstadt, J., Hermans, R. C. J., Renders, C. M., Seidell, J. C., et al. (2020) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph17144928 · Cited by 265
Peer social network processes and adolescent health behaviors: A systematic review
Montgomery, S. C., Donnelly, M., Bhatnagar, P., Carlin, A., Kee, F., & Hunter, R. F. (2019) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.105900 · Cited by 273
Ehatisham-ul-Haq, M., Azam, M. A., Naeem, U., Amin, Y., & Loo, J. (2018) · Journal of Network and Computer Applications · doi:10.1016/j.jnca.2018.02.020 · Cited by 141
Shelton, R. C., Lee, M., Brotzman, L., Crookes, D. M., Jandorf, L. H., Erwin, D. O., & Gage‐Bouchard, E. A. (2018) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.10.013 · Cited by 141
Metadata
- Authors
- Gesell, S. B., Barkin, S. L., & Valente, T. W.
- Affiliations
- Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist (US)
- Vanderbilt University (US)
- University of Southern California (US)
- Corresponding author
- Gesell, Sabina B
- Venue
- Implementation Science
- Published
- 2013-10-01
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 116-116
- ISSN
- 1748-5908 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3851809
- OpenAlex
- W2137036188
- Cited by
- 120
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 12.68
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Implementation Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Vanderbilt University (UL1‐TR000445)
- National Institutes of Health (UL1TR000445, DA027828)
- U.S. Public Health Service (UL1TRR24975)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (U01HL103620, U01HL03620)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (P30DA027828)
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (P30DK092986)
- National Center for Research Resources (UL1RR024975)
- Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (K23HD064700)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
- Social Sciences › Public Administration › Evaluation and Performance Assessment
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Complex Network Analysis Techniques
- Keywords
- social network analysis, group intervention, intervention monitoring, group dynamics, social ties, network density, childhood obesity intervention, advice networks, formative assessment
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Feasibility Studies, Female, Group Processes, Humans, Male, Models, Theoretical, Obesity, Pilot Projects, Surveys and Questionnaires, Tennessee, Young Adult, Social Networking
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