Alan J. Daly|Nienke Moolenaar|José M. Bolívar|Peggy H. Burke
Relationships in reform: the role of teachers' social networks
University of California, San Diego|University of Twente|University of California, San Diego|University of Twente|University of California, San Diego|University of Twente|University of California, San Diego|University of Twente
purpose scholars focused attention systemic reform way support instructional coherence efforts often layered existing social relationships school staff rarely taken account enacting reform social network theory posits structure social relationships may influence direction speed depth organizational change therefore may provide valuable insights social forces may support constrain reform efforts study aims discuss issue designmethodologyapproach mixedmethods exploratory case study examined five schools within one underperforming school district enacted systemwide reform quantitative survey data collected assess social networks teacher work perception five schools enacting reform qualitative data gathered individual interviews educators within representative grade levels way better understand diffusion implementation reform findings despite enacted systemwide reform effort results suggest significant variance within schools terms reformrelated social networks networks significantly related uptake depth spread change densely connected grade levels also associated interactions focused teaching learning increased sense grade level efficacy practical implications findings underline importance attending relational linkages complementary strategy technical emphasis reform efforts social networks found significantly facilitate constrain reform efforts implications recommendations offered leadership policy practice may support design implementation reforms may ultimately increase student performance originalityvalue study makes unique contribution reform literature drawing social network theory way understand efforts reform work suggests informal social linkages reform layered may support constrain depth reform