Social Networks and Occupational Structure
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Stirling
Department Name: Applied Social Science
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
Publications
Griffiths D
(2014)
Measuring the Potential Power Elite in the UK and Sweden
in European Societies
Griffiths D
(2012)
Dimensions and Boundaries: Comparative Analysis of Occupational Structures Using Social Network and Social Interaction Distance Analysis
in Sociological Research Online
Griffiths D
(2018)
Microclass immobility during industrialisation in the USA and Norway
in Acta Sociologica
Griffiths D
(2013)
The American Occupational Marriage Structure, 1980 & 2010
in Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences
Griffiths D
(2015)
Handbook of Research Methods and Applications in Social Capital
Griffiths, D.
(2012)
Strong and Weak Ties as Predictors of Occupational Position
in Sunbelt XXXII
Griffiths, D.
(2012)
Multilevel modelling of social networks and occupational structure
in Association of Social Network Analysts
Griffiths, D.
(2011)
Dimensions and boundaries : comparative analysis of occupational structures using social network and social interaction distance analysis
in ISA RC28 Spring Conference
Lambert, P.S.
(2012)
Comparing network and association models in the analysis of historical patterns of occupational interactions and stratification
in European Social Science History Conference
| Description | The starting point of the project 'Social Networks and Occupational Structure' (SONOCS) was an extended body of previous sociological literature that had used the analysis of social interaction patterns between the incumbents of occupations as a way of finding out about the nature of social inequality. This body of work, associated in particular with the 'Cambridge Scale' and the 'CAMSIS' project, focussed upon identifying a dimension of social inequality in occupations that was defined through social interaction patterns and that proves to be a good indicator of the structure of social stratification (for instance, those jobs that have the most advantaged social connections on average are also those with the most advantaged economic, lifestyle and health outcomes). One of the investigators on the SONOCS project had worked extensively in this tradition, and indeed now maintains the popular CAMSIS project website www.camsis.stir.ac.uk and the development of new CAMSIS scales (work that was continued with and supported as a component of the SONOCS project). The major innovation of the SONOCS project was to exploit different techniques of analysis to explore similar empirical data on the social connections between occupations. Primarily, the project focussed on applying and comparing the outcomes from analysis using the traditional methods of Social Network Analysis. The main strategy was to define occupations as 'Nodes' within a social network framework; in this approach, whether or not a tie was recorded between occupational nodes was defined by whether or not there was a disproportionate number of social connections between the respective occupations. Network analysis techniques (such as graphical depictions, summary statistics and models) were then used to describe the connections between Nodes. Other methodological strategies were also explored, including using random effects models to summarise relations between Nodes, and exploring other regression model frameworks for understanding social connections between occupations. These new avenues of research led to several promising findings. Methodologically, the investigators identified, documented, and promoted to others, a number of alternative means of analysis through which empirical results and substantive interpretations on social structures could be developed. Substantively, the project led to a number of new insights about social stratification and its relation to social connections between occupations. The project investigators published journal, technical and conference papers, and workshop and online materials, summarising the methods used and resulting findings. A forthcoming highlight of the project will be the publication, expected Spring 2014, of a research monograph by the investigators that will summarise both the methodological and substantive results of the project. This study is entitled 'The Social Resin', referring to a metaphor that the authors use to describe the powerful and consequential means by which social connections serve to bind together important social positions (occupations) and in turn contribute to the very reproduction of the social stratification structure itself. |
| Exploitation Route | Researchers from non-academic sectors working with data on occupations, and/or using social network and social interaction analysis techniques, may find the project's methodological resources of value. The operationalisation of categories from social surveys as 'Nodes' is innovative and has potential applications in other sectors. Consumers of social science research outside the academic sector may find the project's insight into the importance of social connections in structuring social inequality of value. In particular, the project explores differences between measures of occupational stratification, stating the case for the measures derived from applying social distance techniques; this discussion is likely to add to popular debates about the measurement of stratification and class analysis. 1) Methodological route: Both the CAMSIS project website (maintained and updated as part of the project), and the SONOCS project website itself, disseminate a range of methodological resources. These cover techniques of analysis (e.g. social interaction distance and social network analysis methods), and metadata on data resources related to occupations. These resources are suited to exploitation by researchers working with social science data outside academic research. The project has also conducted workshop events where similar materials were demonstrated and exercises undertaken, with audience members from academic and other research outlets. There was a healthy interest in these events, which could potentially be re-run by the investigators in the future. 2) Substantive route: The substantive findings of the project centre on themes of the social reproduction of stratification inequality and the consistency of social connections in relating to those structures. Existing social policies related to social inequality and occupational stratification tend to be focussed upon individual level circumstances to the relative neglect of the importance of people's social connections. The project has the potential to inform policy development in this area in academic and non-academic sectors alike. When the project monograph is realised we will be publicising its finding through the project website, through blogs (including that of the connected follow-on ESRC funded project 'Is Britain Pulling Apart?') and by sending leaflets to relevant stakeholder organisations publicising both the book and its findings. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy |
| URL | http://www.camsis.stir.ac.uk/sonocs/ |
| Description | MSc level training provisions |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Inputs of materials on data management and on social networks and social distance to course materials for MSc level training at: - Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis (2010->) - MSc Social Statistics and Social Research (2014 ->, University of Stirling) Participants in these initiatives are now exposed to materials on advanced data management and on social networks and social distance which impacts upon their understanding and research capacity |
| Description | Is Britain pulling apart? : analysis of generational change in social distances |
| Amount | £195,708 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ES/K004379/1 |
| Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2013 |
| End | 06/2014 |
| Description | Supporting the key influencers in young people's career development |
| Amount | £48,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Skills Development Scotland |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2017 |
| End | 09/2020 |
| Description | The evolution of social networking and its impact on Career Management Skills |
| Amount | £45,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Skills Development Scotland |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2014 |
| End | 09/2017 |
| Title | CAMSIS project webapges |
| Description | The CAMSIS webpages, which feature information about constructing stratification scales on the basis of social interaction data, were originally generated after an ESRC project in 1999/2000, but were substantially updated with new materials and updated files during the Social Networks and Occupational Structure project. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | There has been a growth in interest in CAMSIS approaches since 2007, with their resources being used in numerous influential social science research projects. |
| URL | http://www.camsis.stir.ac.uk/ |
| Title | Information resources for analysing social networks and occupations |
| Description | A body of materials generated during the project that support the analysis of social connections between occupations were distributed on the webpage http://www.camsis.stir.ac.uk/sonocs/resources/index.html |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2010 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | We are aware of the tools being used by academic research groups in social history, sociology and public health |
| URL | http://www.camsis.stir.ac.uk/sonocs/resources/index.html |
| Description | Introduction to the analysis of large-scale data on social connections (Practical handout, with accompanying command files in Stata and R) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Practical sessions for workshops on 'Introduction to the analysis of large scaled data on connections and occupational structure' at the Dutch Historical Demography network, Utrecht, 26 April 2012, and 'Introduction to Analysing Social Networks' at University of Cambridge, 12 Sep 2012, provided training and information on methods of analysis and practical steps to ersutls Further collaborative research activities between academic and non-academic researchers were proposed by participants at the event |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| URL | http://www.camsis.stir.ac.uk/sonocs/workshops |