Using social network analysis to explore and expand our understanding of a robust environmental learning landscape

Figures & data

Figure 1. Map of 12-county greater San Francisco Bay Area.

Table 1. Summary of data collection methods.

Data collection method	Purpose
Web-based field scan	Create initial list of known environmental learning-related organizations
Inter-organizational network survey (Round 1)	Explore inter-organizational connections among organizations identified in web-based field scan and with other, newly-identified organizations providing or supporting environmental learning
Organization-specific feedback worksheets	Collect additional network data from previously surveyed and/or named organizations
Inter-organizational network survey (Round 2)	Explore inter-organizational connections among organizations newly identified in Round 1 of network survey and/or organization-specific feedback worksheets

Table 2. Responses to network survey.

	Survey Round 1	Survey Round 2	Overall
Number of organizations contacted	385	410	795
Number of organizations responding	140	116	256
Response rate	36%	28%	32%

Figure 2. Combined whole-network plot of 950 organizations. Nodes on network graph represent organizations that were surveyed (large nodes) or identified by survey respondents (small nodes).

Table 3. Primary fields of work among respondent organizations.

Primary field	# of orgs that listed as their primary field	% of orgs that listed as their primary field ^a	# of orgs with this primary field that listed EE as Field #2, 3, or 4	% of orgs with this primary field for which EE is Field #2, 3, or 4
Environmental education	62	25%	n/a	n/a
Environmental issues	38	15%	30	79%
Other education	23	9%	13	57%
Outdoor recreation	17	7%	9	53%
Science	15	6%	11	73%
Child and youth services	15	6%	9	60%
Research	9	4%	8	89%
Public health	6	2%	1	17%
Advocacy	4	2%	2	50%
Community development	3	1%	3	100%
Family	2	1%	0	0%
Religious	0	0%	n/a	n/a
Senior	0	0%	n/a	n/a

^aNumber of responses divided by 250, the number of respondent organizations completing ‘Fields’ items.

Figure 3. Primary fields of work, as indicated by node color. Nodes on network graph represent organizations that were surveyed (large nodes) or identified by survey respondents (small nodes).

Figure 4. Geographic location (Bay Area County where organization’s home/main office is located), as indicated by node color. Only surveyed organizations were asked this information and are represented.

Figure 5. Organization size (total number of staff members), as indicated by node shading. Only surveyed organizations wereasked this information and are represented.