Extent Of Social Networks Research Articles

Add Bilingualism to the Mix: L2 Proficiency Modulates the Effect of Cognitive Reserve Proxies on Executive Performance in Healthy Aging.

We investigated the contribution of bilingual experience to the development of cognitive reserve (CR) when compared with other, traditionally more researched, CR proxies, in a sample of cognitively healthy senior (60 +) bilingual speakers. Participants performed in an online study where, in addition to a wide inventory of factors known to promote CR, we assessed several factors related to their second language (L2) use. In addition, participants’ inhibitory executive control was measured via the Flanker Task. We used Structural Equation Modeling to derive a latent composite measure of CR informed by traditional CR proxies (i.e., occupational complexity, marital status, current and retrospective socio-economic status, physical exercise, perceived positive support, maximal educational attainment, frequency of leisure activities and extent of social network). We examined whether bilingualism may act as a mediator of the effects of such proxies on cognitive performance therefore assessing the unique contribution of dual language use to CR. First, our analyses revealed facilitatory effects of both L2 age of acquisition and L2 proficiency on the executive performance. Second, our analyses confirmed the moderating role of bilingual experience on the relationship between other factors known to promote CR and cognitive integrity, revealing a strong contribution by bilingualism to CR development. Our findings provide further support to the notion that bilingualism plays an important role in mitigating cognitive decline and promoting successful aging.

The Impact of an Internet Use Promotion Programme on Communication, Internet Use, and the Extent of Social Networks among Low-Income Older Adults.

We examined whether an internet use promotion intervention influences low-income older adults’ communication modes, internet use, and social networks using existing data collected for an intervention. Participants living in public senior housing facilities in the United States (n = 77) completed surveys before and after a 12-week computer and internet training. The six-item Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6) was used to measure the extent of older adults’ social networks. The primary mode of communication shifted from more traditional means to internet-based communications (p < .0005 in a Fisher’s exact test). The frequency of internet use significantly increased (p < .00005 in a one-sided Sign test). Overall, the LSNS-6 score increased by 4.1 points (p < .00005 in a Welch’s t-test). The LSNS-6 score increase was significantly larger among African Americans than Whites, controlling for gender (p < .05 in negative binomial regression). Moderate (p < .005) and frequent internet users (p < .05) had higher LSNS-6 scores than rare internet users at posttest when gender and race were controlled for in linear regression. Comparatively more improvement in the extent of social networks among African Americans suggests greater benefits of such interventions for population groups of disadvantaged backgrounds. Larger social networks among moderate and frequent internet users than rare users suggest positive impacts of internet communications on social networks.

Kamu Diplomasisinde İnsani Diplomasi Temelli Diyalog: Uluslararası İnsani Diplomasi Aktörlerinin Twitter Hesapları Üzerine Karşılaştırmalı Bir Analiz

Diyalog kurma ve ilişki inşa etmenin ana belirleyici olduğu yeni dünya düzeninde, aktörler mevcut ve potansiyel yumuşak güç kaynaklarına yönelerek stratejik iletişim faaliyetlerine odaklanmaktadır. Bu bakımdan devletler ve devlet dışı aktörler bir iletişim süreci olan kamu diplomasisi faaliyetleri ile uluslararası kamuoyunu ve yabancı halkları kendi amaç, hedef ve stratejilerine göre ikna etmeye çalışmaktadır. 21. yüzyıl küresel siyasetindeki bu iletişim temelli zorunlu dönüşüm ise uluslararası toplumdaki sorunlara karşın “insan odaklı” olma vurgusunu giderek zorunlu kılmıştır. Küresel sistem içerisinde dünyayı, özellikle de insanları derinden etkileyen birçok küresel sorun ve kriz giderek yoğunlaşmaktadır. Sorunların küresel düzeyde artması, kamu diplomasisinin bir uygulama alanı olan insani diplomasi faaliyetlerinin önemini arttırmış, bu durum krizlerin tarafları, paydaşları ve gönüllüleriyle diyalog kurulması ve ilişki inşa edilmesi için insani diplomasi aktörlerinin yeni iletişim teknolojilerini de etkili kullanmalarını zorunlu kılmıştır. Bu çalışmada dünyada en çok yardım yapan ve uluslararası insani diplomasinin ana aktörleri olan Türk Kızılay, Amerikan Kızılhaçı, İngiliz Kızılhaçı, Alman Kızılhaçı ve Kanada Kızılhaçı’nın sosyal ağları insani diplomasi açısından hangi düzeyde kullandıklarının ve kullanıcılarla diyalog temelli etkileşime girip girmediklerinin ortaya konulması amaçlanmaktadır. Bu kapsamda çalışmada öncelikle yeni kamu diplomasisi ve insani diplomasi kavramlarının çerçevesi çizilmiş, insani krizlerin çözümünde temel belirleyici olan bu kurumların İngilizce Twitter hesaplarındaki içerikler, sosyal ağları insani diplomasi açısından hangi düzeyde kullandıkları, diyalog temelli etkileşime girip girmediklerine yönelik hipotezler niceliksel içerik çözümlemesi yöntemiyle sınanmıştır. Çalışma sonucunda insani diplomasi faaliyetlerinde kurumların büyük bir kısmının Twitter’ı diyalog temelli kullanmadığı ve paylaşılan içeriklerde etkileşime girme oranının ise düşük olduğu saptanmıştır.

Extent, patterns and demographic correlates for physical fighting among school-attending adolescents in Namibia: examination of the 2013 Global School-based Health Survey.

BackgroundPhysical fighting is particularly detrimental for young people, often affecting other areas of their developing lives, such as relationships with friends and family and participating in risky behaviors. We aim to quantify the amount of problematic physical fighting in Namibian adolescents and identify modifiable risk factors for intervention.MethodsWe used the Namibia 2013 Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS). This survey collects health-related information on school-attending adolescents in grades 7 to 12. We defined physical fighting as having participated in at least two physical fights in the 12 months prior to responding to the survey. Factors that may be associated with physical fighting were identified a prior based on the literature and included age, sex, anxiety, suicide planning, truancy, physical activity, bullying victimization, presence of supportive parental figures, presence of helpful peers, extent of social network, and food insecurity. Multivariable logistic regression models were created to identify factors associated with physical fighting.ResultsA total of 4,510 adolescents were included in the study. A total of 52.7% female. 16.9% of adolescents reported engaging in at least two physical fights in the previous year. Factors associated with an increased odds of physical fighting included having a suicide plan, anxiety, truancy, food deprivation and being bullied. Increased age and loneliness were associated with a decreased odds of physical fighting.ConclusionThis study identifies problematic physical fighting among adolescents in Namibia. We recommend public health and school-based programming that simultaneously targets risk behaviours and conflict resolution to reduce rates of physical fighting.

Abstract P365: Psychosocial Factors and Subsequent Risk of Peripheral Artery Disease: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Background and aims: Psychosocial factors such as depression, character traits, and lack of social support have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, data of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in this regard are sparse. Since risk factor profiles differ across atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) subtypes, to appreciate the contribution of psychosocial factors to overall ASCVD, we aimed to comprehensively explore the association of psychosocial factors with the risk of PAD and ASCVD in a community cohort. Methods: We included 12,090 participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study (mean age 56.7 [SD 5.7] years) free of PAD and ASCVD at baseline (1990-1992). Depressive symptom was evaluated by the Maastricht Questionnaire (MQ). Trait anger was assessed by the Spielberger Trait Anger Scale. Social support was measured by the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List, while the extent of social networks was evaluated by the Lubben Social Network Scale. PAD events were defined as hospitalizations with PAD diagnosis and procedures. ASCVD included adjudicated myocardial infarction, fatal coronary disease, and ischemic stroke events. Results: We observed 429 PAD and 2,539 ASCVD events during a median follow-up of 23.1 years. The cumulative incidence of PAD was highest in the highest quartile of MQ score. This association remained after adjusting for traditional CVD risk factors, socioeconomic status, and physical activity. A weaker association was observed for ASCVD. Social support also showed independent association with incident PAD, but not with ASCVD. Trait anger and social network were not significantly associated with either PAD or ASCVD (Table). Conclusions: Psychosocial factors demonstrated more evident associations with PAD than ASCVD. Our results suggest the importance of considering PAD when assessing the overall impact of those factors on CVD. Future studies are needed to explore potential mechanisms behind our observation.

Physical Fighting among School-Attending Adolescents in Pakistan: Associated Factors and Contextual Influences.

Background: Adolescent physical fighting is a problem of public health importance, with varied consequences in the form of school absenteeism, injury, and, in some cases, death. Although research on risk and protective factors exists, most has been conducted in high-income countries. Methods: The 2009 Pakistan Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS) data were used. Logistic regression models were used to determine the associations. Five independent variables were investigated at the individual level (anxiety, suicide planning, truancy, physical activity, and bullying victimization) and four independent variables at the social level (presence of supportive parental figures, presence of helpful peers, extent of social network, and food insecurity). Results: Among adolescents in this study (N = 5177), 20% reported being involved in two or more physical fights, most of whom were males (79.9%). The factors associated with physical fighting were: being male (OR = 2.78); bullying victimization (OR = 3.14); truancy (OR = 1.63), loneliness (OR = 1.44); and suicidality, as evidenced by having a suicide plan (OR = 1.75). Having few close friends (0–2) as opposed to more (>3) was found to be protective against engaging in physical fighting. Conclusion: Risk factors for physical fighting among adolescents in South Asia seem to corroborate with previously-identified risk factors using samples in high-income countries, while protective factors seemed to differ. More research needs to be conducted to understand why certain factors do not have the same protective effect among South Asian adolescents. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine demographic and contextual factors associated with physical fighting among a nationally representative sample in a rapidly developing South Asian context.

Extending Data for Urban Health Decision-Making: a Menu of New and Potential Neighborhood-Level Health Determinants Datasets in LMICs

Area-level indicators of the determinants of health are vital to plan and monitor progress toward targets such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Tools such as the Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool (Urban HEART) and UN-Habitat Urban Inequities Surveys identify dozens of area-level health determinant indicators that decision-makers can use to track and attempt to address population health burdens and inequalities. However, questions remain as to how such indicators can be measured in a cost-effective way. Area-level health determinants reflect the physical, ecological, and social environments that influence health outcomes at community and societal levels, and include, among others, access to quality health facilities, safe parks, and other urban services, traffic density, level of informality, level of air pollution, degree of social exclusion, and extent of social networks. The identification and disaggregation of indicators is necessarily constrained by which datasets are available. Typically, these include household- and individual-level survey, census, administrative, and health system data. However, continued advancements in earth observation (EO), geographical information system (GIS), and mobile technologies mean that new sources of area-level health determinant indicators derived from satellite imagery, aggregated anonymized mobile phone data, and other sources are also becoming available at granular geographic scale. Not only can these data be used to directly calculate neighborhood- and city-level indicators, they can be combined with survey, census, administrative and health system data to model household- and individual-level outcomes (e.g., population density, household wealth) with tremendous detail and accuracy. WorldPop and the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) have already modeled dozens of household survey indicators at country or continental scales at resolutions of 1 × 1 km or even smaller. This paper aims to broaden perceptions about which types of datasets are available for health and development decision-making. For data scientists, we flag area-level indicators at city and sub-city scales identified by health decision-makers in the SDGs, Urban HEART, and other initiatives. For local health decision-makers, we summarize a menu of new datasets that can be feasibly generated from EO, mobile phone, and other spatial data—ideally to be made free and publicly available—and offer lay descriptions of some of the difficulties in generating such data products.

El Paleolítico Superior de la península ibérica

Este artículo intenta ofrecer una síntesis relativamente completa de lo que se conoce en la actualidad sobre la transición del Paleolítico medio al superior y el desarrollo de las adaptaciones humanas y de las culturas durante el último periodo en la Península Ibérica (España y Portugal, así como Andorra y Gibraltar). Los énfasis del trabajo, que es inevitablemente selectivo y se basa principalmente en la bibliografía disponible más reciente, son las condiciones ambientales, el asentamiento humano, las tecnologías, la subsistencia y la expresión artística, desde una perspectiva que subraya en que medida la naturaleza y extensión de las redes sociales han cambiado durante todo el desarrollo del Estadio Isotópico Marino 3 tardío y todo el Estadio 2. El objetivo es abarcar todas las regiones de la península, pese a sus diferentes historias de la investigación y sus desiguales densidades de yacimientos. Una conclusión general es que a pesar de las fluctuaciones climáticas del Tardiglaciar, uno puede escribir diferentes histoires de la longue durée sobre importantes unidades geográficas como la región cantábrica (atlántica septentrional) de España, la cuenca del Ebro, la España levantina (mediterránea), Andalucía, las mesetas interiores de España y las cuencas del Duero y el Tajo, y las regiones meridional y central-septentrional de Portugal. Además, en diferentes grados a través del tiempo, hubo tanto una unidad cultural peninsular, creada por redes sociales entre esas regiones, como contactos con bandas de cazadores-recolectores al norte de los Pirineos.

Neighborhood Satisfaction: A Study of a Low-Income Urban Community

This article discusses the findings from a study on neighborhood satisfaction conducted within the North Camden neighborhood context. Using data from the 2011 North Camden Resident Satisfaction Survey, the study examined the subjective measures of neighborhood-level characteristics to identify the determinants of neighborhood satisfaction. A binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the quality of social networks, neighborhood physical conditions, neighborhood safety, and quality of public services are positively associated with neighborhood satisfaction. Surprisingly, the analysis showed that the extent of social networks and access to transportation have an inverse relationship with the satisfaction of residents with their neighborhood. The article discusses these findings and the way in which the results can inform practitioners about policies and programs that need to be developed and implemented to improve neighborhood satisfaction and, ultimately, individual and community well-being.

Resilience and the population history of the Kuril Islands, Northwest Pacific: A study in complex human ecodynamics

Living in remote places can strain the adaptive capacities of human settlers. It can also protect communities from external social, political and economic forces. In this paper, we present an archaeological population history of the Kuril Islands. This string of small volcanic islands on the margins of the Northwest Pacific was occupied by maritime hunting, fishing and gathering communities from the mid-Holocene to recent centuries. We bring together (1) 380 new and previously published archaeological radiocarbon dates, (2) a new paleodemographic model based on a radiocarbon-timestamped temporal frequency distribution of archaeological deposits, (3) recently published paleoclimate trends, and (4) recently published archaeological proxy evidence for changes in the extent of social networks. We demonstrate that, over the last two millennia, inhabitants of the Kuril Islands underwent dramatic demographic fluctuations. Explanations of these fluctuations are considered in the context of environmental hazards, social networks and the emergence of an East Asian “World System”, elucidating the tension between local and external adaptive strategies to social and ecological uncertainty. Results suggest that population resilience to local climate and environmental variability was achieved by virtue of social networks that maintained non-local support in times of crisis. Conversely, the expansion of the East Asian political economy into neighboring regions of the southern margin of the Kuril Islands perhaps in conjunction with exposure to epidemic diseases appears to have undermined the adaptive strategies, resulting in an increase in the vulnerability of Kuril populations to environmental fluctuations.

Long-Term Predictors of Social and Leisure Activity 10 Years after Stroke.

BackgroundRestrictions in social and leisure activity can have negative consequences for the health and well-being of stroke survivors. To support the growing number of people who are ageing with stroke, knowledge is needed about factors that influence such activity in a long-term perspective.AimTo identify long-term predictors of the frequency of social and leisure activities 10 years after stroke.Method145 stroke survivors in Sweden were followed-up at16 months and 10 years after a first-ever stroke. Data representing body functions, activities & participation, environmental factors and personal factors at 16 months after stroke, were used in multiple linear regression analyses to identify predictors of the activity frequency after 10 years, as assessed by the ‘Community, social and civic life’ sub-domain of the Frenchay Activities Index (FAI-CSC).ResultsAt the 10-year follow-up the frequency of social and leisure activities varied considerably among the participants, with FAI-CSC scores spanning the entire score range 0–9 (mean/median 4.9/5.0). Several factors at 16 months post stroke were independently related to the long-term activity frequency. The final regression model included four significant explanatory variables. Driving a car (B = 0.999), ability to walk a few hundred meters (B = 1.698) and extent of social network (B = 1.235) had a positive effect on activity frequency, whereas an age ≥ 75 years had a negative effect (B = -1.657). This model explained 36.9% of the variance in the FAI-CSC (p<0.001).ConclusionStroke survivors who drive a car, have the ability to walk a few hundred meters and have a wide social network at 16 months after a first-ever stroke are more likely to have a high frequency of social and leisure activities after 10 years, indicating that supporting outdoor mobility and social anchorage of stroke survivors during rehabilitation is important to counteract long-term inactivity.

What do we know about the social networks of single parents who do not use supportive services?

AbstractThe role that social support and social networks play in mediating isolation and stress experienced by vulnerable families is well established. However, a major issue facing supportive human services is to find and engage families with limited social networks and link them to supports that could improve outcomes for their families. This paper reports on the results of in‐depth interviews with 20 sole parents with children aged under 5 who were not well connected to services. It documents their social networks with the use of a social network map. Using a social capital lens, the analysis attempts to differentiate the different relationships in the participants' lives. Most participants were not satisfied with their informal networks, with conflicted or ambivalent reliance on family, absence of support and community engagement and fragility of informal networks. Although this group of isolated mothers does encounter the formal service system, the opportunities to increase and strengthen their networks do not eventuate. Better understanding of the nature and extent of social networks can inform practitioners and policy‐makers of the critical factors needed to increase service use for parents with limited resources.

Financial Exit Routes from the ‘Poverty Trap’: A Study of Four UK Cities

Potentially, community development finance institutions (CDFIs) represent a promising complement to the welfare system in its attempts to reduce poverty, since they provide finance to the financially excluded and potentially remove a barrier to their acquisition of assets. Drawing on a new survey of around 360 households in four UK cities, surveyed both before and after the 2008/09 recession, it is found that a major factor determining whether low-income households receiving CDFI loans are able to exit from poverty is their ability to save. This is found to be determined by a variety of attitudinal and institutional factors, including the ‘rationality’ of their coping strategies, the nature and extent of social networks and the extent of their access to money advice. It is argued that some of these causal factors are amenable to policy.

Disaggregate Analysis of Gasoline Consumption Demand of Greek Households

The expenditure on private vehicle usage is an important aspect of the budget allocation process of households, which has important implications for the sustainable urban development and transport, energy and environmental policy making. This paper examines the gasoline consumption demand of Greek households using cross-sectional micro-data from a country-wide Household Budget Survey (HBS) during the period 2004/05. The two-step Heckman modeling methodology is adopted to jointly estimate the probability of selecting to use private vehicle and the amount of using it. In this way, it can help to identify and better explain factors for which some private vehicle owners/holders do (not) actually consume that mode. The results offer valuable insight into the existence of feedback relationship between the decision-making mechanisms of selecting to use private vehicle and amount of usage, in terms of the amount of money spent for gasoline consumption. They also indicate the statistically significant impact of region-specific fixed effects, which implies that unobserved or omitted factors associated with each Region have a different impact on the decision to choose and the amount of using private vehicle. The income variable has a statistically significant positive impact on the selection and usage of a private vehicle. The estimated income elasticity suggests that a private vehicle travel is relatively inelastic (normal and necessity good). Its value reflects the increased car dependence and it is within the range of other income elasticities found in the literature. The male gender of household head, the amount of cars owned, the participation of family members in the labour market, the family size (a single-parent or couples with at least one child older than 18 years-old) and the expenditure on communication and tourism increase the probability of private vehicle gasoline consumption. The latter finding verifies that private vehicle constitutes an important means of transport during vacation. The use of communication devices, especially a mobile phone, reinforces the use of private vehicle, as it weakens the need for short-range activity planning in advance and the range and extent of social networking. On the contrary, the high population densities, the connection to the internet and the aging of household head reduce the probability of private vehicle gasoline consumption. The above results signify the role of personal and intra-household constraints, mostly related to size and aging structure, on the selection and use of a private vehicle. The expenditure on most other transport categories, such as an urban public transport, taxi, coach and rail negatively and statistically significantly affect private vehicle gasoline consumption. This outcome stresses the competitive relationship between the private vehicle and other transport modes which are mainly used in urban areas (urban bus, metro, and taxi). The study findings suggest the design of more sustainable leisure travel services, focussed on upgrading the quality of public transport modes servicing tourist resort areas. Policy measures to manage private vehicle use must be spatially targeted, accounting for the local climate, residential densities, infrastructure and accessibility conditions and the service quality of alternative modes in each Region. These measures can be supplemented with the adoption of suitable information and communication technologies to reduce the demand for private vehicle travel and increase the level of public transport services, as well as investments in clean vehicle technologies.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ee.23.1.1226

Smoking behaviour and associated factors of illicit cigarette consumption in a border province of southern Thailand

BackgroundIllicit cigarette consumption has increased worldwide. It is important to understand this problem thoroughly.ObjectivesTo investigate behaviours and factors associated with illicit cigarette consumption in southern Thailand.DesignA survey and qualitative study...

公園における問題対応行動への意図と近隣住民への信頼感との関係

In order to create safe public parks that are accessible to everyone, the role of neighborhood residents is important. The aim of this study is to identify the factors that affect the intention of the residents to deal with various problems in public parks, especially in terms of the types and extent of social networks among neighborhood residents, based on a survey conducted in Suma Ward, Kobe City. 837 respondents of the survey were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Three latent variables were set in the model -the trust among neighborhood residents, the size of personal networks in neighborhoods, and the participation in neighborhood activities. Results are as follows. 1)In order to form the intention to act for the problems in public parks, the trust is important. 2)The size of personal networks and the participation in neighborhood activities can stimulate the creation of the trust. 3)The role of the trust is important for large parks while the extent of social networks is important for small parks. Based on these results, this paper discusses the direction of the risk management of public parks by neighborhood residents.

On Measuring Personal Connections and the Extent of Social Networks

Abstract The notions of personal connection and social networks are key ingredients of the increasingly important concept of social capital in social sciences in general and in economics in particular. This paper discusses the problem of measuring personal connection and the extent of social networks that may exist in a society. For this purpose we develop several conceptual and analytical frameworks. In the process, we axiomatically characterize several measures of personal connection and social networks.

Social Networks and the Emergence of the New Entrepreneurial Ventures in Russia: 1987–2000

Abstract. This article examines the use of social networks by Russia’s new entrepreneurs during venture start‐up. After outlining the general historical context of economic transformation in Russia, I describe four patterns of transition to private enterprise ownership by individuals with different professional skills, different amounts of initial financial capital, and different types and extent of social networks. This description is based on an original set of data I collected during interviews with owners of small‐ and medium‐size businesses in Russia in the late 1990s. I conclude with a discussion of how such factors as access to the initial financial capital, history of past employment, and extent and type of personal social networks mediate the risks of starting a new venture.

Is the involvement of opinion leaders in the implementation of research findings a feasible strategy?

BackgroundThere is only limited empirical evidence about the effectiveness of opinion leaders as health care change agents.AimTo test the feasibility of identifying, and the characteristics of, opinion leaders using a sociometric instrument and a self-designating instrument in different professional groups within the UK National Health Service.DesignPostal questionnaire survey.Setting and participantsAll general practitioners, practice nurses and practice managers in two regions of Scotland. All physicians and surgeons (junior hospital doctors and consultants) and medical and surgical nursing staff in two district general hospitals and one teaching hospital in Scotland, as well as all Scottish obstetric and gynaecology, and oncology consultants.ResultsUsing the sociometric instrument, the extent of social networks and potential coverage of the study population in primary and secondary care was highly idiosyncratic. In contrast, relatively complex networks with good coverage rates were observed in both national specialty groups. Identified opinion leaders were more likely to have the expected characteristics of opinion leaders identified from diffusion and social influence theories. Moreover, opinion leaders appeared to be condition-specific. The self-designating instrument identified more opinion leaders, but it was not possible to estimate the extent and structure of social networks or likely coverage by opinion leaders. There was poor agreement in the responses to the sociometric and self-designating instruments.ConclusionThe feasibility of identifying opinion leaders using an off-the-shelf sociometric instrument is variable across different professional groups and settings within the NHS. Whilst it is possible to identify opinion leaders using a self-designating instrument, the effectiveness of such opinion leaders has not been rigorously tested in health care settings. Opinion leaders appear to be monomorphic (different leaders for different issues). Recruitment of opinion leaders is unlikely to be an effective general strategy across all settings and professional groups; the more specialised the group, the more opinion leaders may be a useful strategy.

Adoption of range management innovations by Utah ranchers

Improving the sustainability of grazed rangelands requires that landowners adopt management innovations. We interviewed Utah ranchers to better understand innovation adoption among range livestock operators, and ultimately to suggest improvements in content and delivery of outreach activities. A 2-phase, qualitative social science research method was used to encourage discovery of information unlikely to be revealed via surveys and to expand the application of adoption theory to range livestock production. In line with previous research, innovation was related to full-time ranch operation, dependence on ranch income, anticipated future of the ranch, and extent of social networks. Barriers to innovation included inadequate time and resources, peer influences, and perceived drawbacks of potential innovations (e.g., difficulty of pilot-testing new grazing systems, or poor cost-benefit ratios of vegetation treatments). In contrast to previous studies, innovators were motivated by a desire to demonstrate stewardship to land managers and the public. Previously unidentified barriers included spatial characteristics of the ranch enterprise and perceptions about political/legal constraints.