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

Committee Member

Yang, Song

Second Committee Member

Schreckhise, William

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.

Available for download on Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Included in

Public Policy Commons

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