Woodland Owner Networks and Peer-to-Peer Learning Eli Sagor University of Minnesota Extension Shorna Broussard Allred Cornell University Maureen McDonough Michigan State University Small-scale Forestry 2009 Morgantown, WV

Project Origins

Outline Networks and peer-to-peer learning Current projects Building a network Next steps

Networks and peer-to-peer learning

Current projects

Building a network

Next steps

What is peer-to-peer learning? Everyone a teacher, everyone a learner One-on-one or group Learner driven Peer-validated Different ways of knowing

Everyone a teacher, everyone a learner

One-on-one or group

Learner driven

Peer-validated

Different ways of knowing

Rationale: peer networks Preferred source of info & advice Accessible Efficient

Preferred source of info & advice

Accessible

Efficient

Structural network theory Social memory Heterogeneity Resilience Learning Crona, Bodin, and Ernstson 2006 Network density Reachability Centrality Betweenness / modularity

Social memory

Heterogeneity

Resilience

Learning

Structural network theory Social memory Heterogeneity Resilience Learning Crona, Bodin, and Ernstson 2006 Network density Reachability Centrality Betweenness / modularity

Social memory

Heterogeneity

Resilience

Learning

Structural network theory Social memory Heterogeneity Resilience Learning Crona, Bodin, and Ernstson 2006 Network density Reachability Centrality Betweenness / modularity

Social memory

Heterogeneity

Resilience

Learning

Structural network theory Social memory Heterogeneity Resilience Learning Crona, Bodin, and Ernstson 2006 Network density Reachability Centrality Betweenness / modularity

Social memory

Heterogeneity

Resilience

Learning

Diffusion models: two-step flow Source: Watts & Dodds 2007, J. Consumer Research

Diffusion models: network Source: Watts & Dodds 2007, J. Consumer Research

Reachability / network distance Networks in which more actors (info sources) are reachable across short “distances” can more easily access and distribute information Bodin, Crona, and Ernstson 2006 Oh et al. 2004

Networks in which more actors (info sources) are reachable across short “distances” can more easily access and distribute information

Bodin, Crona, and Ernstson 2006

Oh et al. 2004

Social learning One actor proactively seeking new information from another. Optimized in large, low-density networks.

One actor proactively seeking new information from another. Optimized in large, low-density networks.

Social influence One actor persuading another to adopt a viewpoint, belief, or behavior. Optimized in small, dense, “tight-knit” networks.

One actor persuading another to adopt a viewpoint, belief, or behavior. Optimized in small, dense, “tight-knit” networks.

Other social network concepts Weak ties: Distant, infrequent contacts. Most efficient for codified knowledge Strong ties: Close, frequent, trusted contacts. Most efficient for tacit knowledge Reagans & McEvily 2003 Granovetter 1973

Weak ties: Distant, infrequent contacts. Most efficient for codified knowledge

Strong ties: Close, frequent, trusted contacts. Most efficient for tacit knowledge

Some roles to foster peer-to-peer learning Organize learning space Moderate information Support volunteers Support organizations

Organize learning space

Moderate information

Support volunteers

Support organizations

Davis Role: Organize learning space

Role: Moderator

Role: Support volunteers

Role: Strategic network support Creating efficient connections where they’re missing.

Creating efficient connections where they’re missing.

Current projects Egocentric network analysis: MA, MN, Finland Master volunteer program evaluation Social marketing Qualitative case studies: US, Australia, Finland Strategic networks Network optimization: Positions and roles

Egocentric network analysis: MA, MN, Finland

Master volunteer program evaluation

Social marketing

Qualitative case studies: US, Australia, Finland

Strategic networks

Network optimization: Positions and roles

Egocentric networks Who do you turn to for advice? -Family, peer, professional -Location -Opinions -Network density Type and nature of peer influence

Who do you turn to for advice? -Family, peer, professional -Location -Opinions -Network density

Type and nature of peer influence

Research questions What are the outcomes of different models of peer-to-peer outreach? What kind of information flows through woodland owner networks, and how? How and why do outcomes differ from alternative programs? How does participation affect network size and access to trusted information?

What are the outcomes of different models of peer-to-peer outreach?

What kind of information flows through woodland owner networks, and how?

How and why do outcomes differ from alternative programs?

How does participation affect network size and access to trusted information?

Forest Landowner Networks in New York Shorna Broussard, Cornell

What did you do, in part, as a result of your contact and communication with a NYMFO?

Take home messages: NY Positive experiences with MFO peers Common topics: land characteristics goals stewardship using a professional forester Common behavior outcomes: seeking information setting goals hiring a private consulting forester

Positive experiences with MFO peers

Common topics: land characteristics goals stewardship using a professional forester

Common behavior outcomes: seeking information setting goals hiring a private consulting forester

A qualitative case study approach

Cases Western US Extension master volunteer (e.g. Master Woodland Stewards) Midwestern US woodland owner co-operative Eastern US community-based organization Landcare, Australia

Western US Extension master volunteer (e.g. Master Woodland Stewards)

Midwestern US woodland owner co-operative

Eastern US community-based organization

Landcare, Australia

Homophily, heterophily, and structural equivalence Homophily: “She’s just like me.” Structural equivalence: “We’re in similar situations” Relationships between homophily, structural equivalence, influence, trust, information flow, and behavior?

Homophily: “She’s just like me.”

Structural equivalence: “We’re in similar situations”

Relationships between homophily, structural equivalence, influence, trust, information flow, and behavior?

Roles: Two-step flow model

Roles: network model

Building a network

Symposium photo

Symposium photos

Symposium photo

Symposium: Priority issues How to start a new network. What would it take to grow existing networks? Gap analysis: Where (or for what audiences) is this not happening? How to evaluate success, including return on investment? Other peer-to-peer research: Outcomes, roles How to integrate into existing programs? How to build and support our network? Public policy changes needed to support this? How to leverage other Federal (not necessarily forestry-related) programs?

How to start a new network.

What would it take to grow existing networks?

Gap analysis: Where (or for what audiences) is this not happening?

How to evaluate success, including return on investment?

Other peer-to-peer research: Outcomes, roles

How to integrate into existing programs?

How to build and support our network?

Public policy changes needed to support this?

How to leverage other Federal (not necessarily forestry-related) programs?

Ning site screenshot

Future directions Mapping woodland owner social networks Measuring social network effects on woodland owner behavior Developing a practical toolkit for program organizers Building the network

Mapping woodland owner social networks

Measuring social network effects on woodland owner behavior

Developing a practical toolkit for program organizers

Building the network

Project steering committee Brett Butler , US Forest Service FIA / NWOS Mark Buccowich , US Forest Service, NA Shorna Broussard Allred , Cornell University Karl Dalla Rosa , US Forest Service, Co-op Forestry Dylan Jenkins , TNC Pennsylvania David Kittredge and Paul Catanzaro , UMass Amherst Amanda Kueper , University of Minnesota Jim Johnson , Oregon State University Maureen McDonough , Michigan State University James Malone , AL Treasure Forest Assoc. Don Mansius and Kevin Doran , Maine Forest Service Eric Norland , CSREES David Robertson , Virginia Tech

Project steering committee

Brett Butler , US Forest Service FIA / NWOS

Mark Buccowich , US Forest Service, NA

Shorna Broussard Allred , Cornell University

Karl Dalla Rosa , US Forest Service, Co-op Forestry

Dylan Jenkins , TNC Pennsylvania

David Kittredge and Paul Catanzaro , UMass Amherst

Amanda Kueper , University of Minnesota

Jim Johnson , Oregon State University

Maureen McDonough , Michigan State University

James Malone , AL Treasure Forest Assoc.

Don Mansius and Kevin Doran , Maine Forest Service

Eric Norland , CSREES

David Robertson , Virginia Tech

Join us! http://WoodlandOwnerNetworks.ning.com or http://bit.ly/10G9ky Eli Sagor, [email_address]