Evolution of change : social networking, local government, and the diffusion of innovation, 2009

Item — Call Number: MU Thesis Spa

Identifier: 2767938

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection consists of theses written by students enrolled in the Monmouth University graduate Communication program. The holdings are bound print documents that were submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Master of Arts degree.

Dates

Creation: 2009

Creator

Spada, Michele-Maria (Author, Person)
Novek, Eleanor (Thesis advisor, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Access is by appointment only.

Access to the collection is confined to the Monmouth University Library and is subject to patron policies approved by the Monmouth University Library.

Collection holdings may not be borrowed through interlibrary loan.

Research appointments are scheduled by the Monmouth University Library Archives Collections Manager (723-923-4526). A minimum of three days advance notice is required to arrange a research appointment for access to the collection.

Patrons must complete a Researcher Registration Form and provide appropriate identification to gain access to the collection holdings. Copies of these documents will be kept on file at the Monmouth University Library.

Extent

1 Items (print book) : 33 pages ; 8.5 x 11.0 inches (28 cm).

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The research conducted for this study focused on the new communication phenomenon of social networking and examines if their work and communication could influence the local government agendas. By exploring the possibilities, the researcher will examine this phenomenon through the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory investigating and exploring if an individual can create a social network comprised of concerned citizens who then could create change in local government agendas and identify necessary communication channels and patterns for this adoption.

Using almost two years of a local social network's group personal email, correspondences to the local government administration and using 11 semi-structured interviews of the social network and local government officials, the researcher begins the framework for an important communication study of this new phenomenon.

The research is important because local government is a microcosm of the larger political process based in the social sciences and could give information on how change is communicated and new ideas are adopted within social network and the local government.