Keith Warren1, Benjamin Campbell2, Skyler Cranmer3, George De Leon4, Nathan Doogan5, Mackenzie Weiler6, Fiona Doherty7. 1. The Ohio State University College of Social Work, 1947 N. College Road Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: Warren.193@osu.edu. 2. The Ohio State University Department of Political Science, 154 N Oval Mall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: BenCam92@gmail.com. 3. The Ohio State University Department of Political Science, 154 N Oval Mall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: Cranmer.12@osu.edu. 4. New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing, 433 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10010, USA. Electronic address: geodeleon@aol.com. 5. Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource Center, 1070 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: Nathan.Doogan@osumc.edu. 6. The Ohio State University Department of Political Science, 154 N Oval Mall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: Weiler.139@buckeyemail.osu.edu. 7. The Ohio State University College of Social Work, 1947 N. College Road Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: Doherty.156@buckeyemail.osu.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Researchers have begun to consider the ways in which social networks influence therapeutic community (TC) treatment outcomes. However, there are few studies of the way in which the social networks of TC residents develop over the course of treatment. METHODOLOGY: We used a Temporal Exponential Random Graph Model (TERGM) to analyze changes in social networks totaling 320,387 peer affirmations exchanged between residents in three correctional TCs, one of which serves men and two of which serve both men and women. The networks were analyzed within weekly and monthly time-frames. RESULTS: Within a weekly time-frame residents tended to close triads. Residents who were not previously connected tended not to affirm the same peers. Residents showed homophily by entry cohort. Other results were inconsistent across TC units. Within a monthly time-frame participants showed homophily by graduation status. They showed the same patterns of triadic closure when connected, tendency not to affirm the same peers when not connected and homophily by cohort entry time as in a weekly time frame. CONCLUSIONS: TCs leverage three human tendencies to bring about change. The first is the tendency of cooperators to work together, in this case in seeking graduation. The second is the tendency of people to build clusters. The third is homophily, in this case by cohort entry time. Consistent with TC clinical theory, residents spread affirmations to a variety of peers when they have no previous connection. This suggests that residents balance network clustering with a concern for the community as a whole.
BACKGROUND: Researchers have begun to consider the ways in which social networks influence therapeutic community (TC) treatment outcomes. However, there are few studies of the way in which the social networks of TC residents develop over the course of treatment. METHODOLOGY: We used a Temporal Exponential Random Graph Model (TERGM) to analyze changes in social networks totaling 320,387 peer affirmations exchanged between residents in three correctional TCs, one of which serves men and two of which serve both men and women. The networks were analyzed within weekly and monthly time-frames. RESULTS: Within a weekly time-frame residents tended to close triads. Residents who were not previously connected tended not to affirm the same peers. Residents showed homophily by entry cohort. Other results were inconsistent across TC units. Within a monthly time-frame participants showed homophily by graduation status. They showed the same patterns of triadic closure when connected, tendency not to affirm the same peers when not connected and homophily by cohort entry time as in a weekly time frame. CONCLUSIONS:TCs leverage three human tendencies to bring about change. The first is the tendency of cooperators to work together, in this case in seeking graduation. The second is the tendency of people to build clusters. The third is homophily, in this case by cohort entry time. Consistent with TC clinical theory, residents spread affirmations to a variety of peers when they have no previous connection. This suggests that residents balance network clustering with a concern for the community as a whole.
Authors: David R Hunter; Mark S Handcock; Carter T Butts; Steven M Goodreau; Martina Morris Journal: J Stat Softw Date: 2008-05-01 Impact factor: 6.440
Authors: Wouter Vanderplasschen; Kathy Colpaert; Mieke Autrique; Richard Charles Rapp; Steve Pearce; Eric Broekaert; Stijn Vandevelde Journal: ScientificWorldJournal Date: 2013-01-15