A social network analysis of Texas Alliance for Water Conservation Producers

Networks of relationships form the foundation of our social lives. Understanding and utilizing these connections can help practitioners and researchers more effectively and efficiently disseminate information and innovations within a group. The Texas Alliance for Water Conservation is concerned with identifying the best practices and new technologies for water management in West Texas. The project also desires to share knowledge beyond the currently involved members to other producers in the region. This study sought to describe the interpersonal relations of the TAWC Demonstration Project producers through social network analysis.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with TAWC producers in order to describe producers and their interpersonal connections in terms of relations and typology. NodeXL for Microsoft Excel, QDA Miner, and WordStat software tools were used for data analysis. Results indicated TAWC producers are diverse in their attributes, both personally and in their farming operations. Analysis revealed a change agent and several opinion leaders within the TAWC producer network. Furthermore, the knowledge developed through the TAWC has reach beyond the TAWC producers. The study results will facilitate further social network analysis of the population and guide further information and innovation dissemination to the TAWC producer network.

This thesis won 2nd Place in the Texas Tech University Outstanding Thesis and Dissertation Award, Social Sciences, 2014.