Date of Graduation
8-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy (PhD)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
Public Policy
Advisor/Mentor
Dowdle, Andrew J.
Committee Member
Yang, Song
Second Committee Member
Schreckhise, William D.
Keywords
Policy change; Policy diffusion; Social network theory
Abstract
Current research on policy diffusion and innovation primarily focuses on the policy idea as the unit of analysis. While diffusion studies incorporating social network theory often examine networks at the collective entity-level, they tend to neglect the actions of individual members. This study investigates how state legislators' exposure to novel policy ideas through their multiplex network ties influences their sponsorship of related bills and how legislators’ collaboration and coordination within these networks may significantly impact public policy outcomes. This three-article dissertation addresses three key areas by: 1) examining Arkansas legislators' participation within the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) network; 2) identifying and analyzing additional ties that influence network members' sponsorship rates; and, 3) investigating the potential relationship between policy type and network members' sponsorship rates. This study contributes a novel framework for analyzing legislative behavior, one that can be readily replicated for application in other jurisdictions.
Citation
Hoskins, M. B. (2024). Beyond Single Connections: An Exploration of How Overlapping Networks Drive Policy Change Among State Legislators. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/5471
