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Modeling the Evolution of a Policy Network Using Network Analysis
Author(s) -
McGregor Sue L. T.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
family and consumer sciences research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.372
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1552-3934
pISSN - 1077-727X
DOI - 10.1177/1077727x04263840
Subject(s) - stakeholder , computer science , process (computing) , network analysis , data science , social network analysis , policy analysis , data mining , world wide web , political science , social media , physics , quantum mechanics , law , operating system , public relations
A six‐stage model was developed to conceptualize the evolutionary process for policy networks, using the 20‐year evolution of the Canadian Electronic Funds Transfer System/Point Of Sale (EFTS/POS) policy network as an example. A content analysis of 231 policy documents was used to create individual case studies of 16 stakeholders. These cases were vetted with respective stakeholders and then amalgamated into one large, chronological case study. These attribute data were converted to relational data, in the form of 51 matrices and four sets of sociograms, and then analyzed using network analysis. The results (a) show that, with some variation, the model provides a reliable map of the evolution of policy networks and (b) confirm that network analysis captures the attributes and properties of the relational dynamics inherent in stakeholder interactions during the development of policy. This augments the traditional approach of capturing the properties of actors, organizations or policy.