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Key considerations and challenges in the application of social‐network research for environmental decision making
Author(s) -
Guerrero A. M.,
Barnes M.,
Bodin Ö.,
Chadès I.,
Davis K. J.,
Iftekhar M. S.,
Morgans C.,
Wilson K. A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
conservation biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.2
H-Index - 222
eISSN - 1523-1739
pISSN - 0888-8892
DOI - 10.1111/cobi.13461
Subject(s) - humanities , context (archaeology) , social network (sociolinguistics) , geography , welfare economics , computer science , philosophy , archaeology , world wide web , social media , economics
Attempts to better understand the social context in which conservation and environmental decisions are made has led to increased interest in human social networks. To improve the use of social‐network analysis in conservation, we reviewed recent studies in the literature in which such methods were applied. In our review, we looked for problems in research design and analysis that limit the utility of network analysis. Nineteen of 55 articles published from January 2016 to June 2019 exhibited at least 1 of the following problems: application of analytical methods inadequate or sensitive to incomplete network data; application of statistical approaches that ignore dependency in the network; or lack of connection between the theoretical base, research question, and choice of analytical techniques. By drawing attention to these specific areas of concern and highlighting research frontiers and challenges, including causality, network dynamics, and new approaches, we responded to calls for increasing the rigorous application of social science in conservation.