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A three-dimensional approach to brokerage in networks : Potential applications in STS

Becker, Per LU orcid (2025) ISA RC33's 11th International Conference on Social Science Methodology
Abstract
This paper introduces a three-dimensional approach for analysing brokerage in social networks that has the potential to open new areas of research in Science and Technology Studies (STS). Brokerage is a fundamental concept in social network analysis, where it refers to situations in which actors bridge otherwise disconnected actors. Such brokerage can have both individual consequences and consequences for the network as a whole. While traditional approaches to brokerage focus primarily on counting brokerage instances, our framework expands this perspective by examining three important dimensions of brokerage—brokerage activity, exclusivity, and diversity—focusing both on different established brokerage roles and in total. This... (More)
This paper introduces a three-dimensional approach for analysing brokerage in social networks that has the potential to open new areas of research in Science and Technology Studies (STS). Brokerage is a fundamental concept in social network analysis, where it refers to situations in which actors bridge otherwise disconnected actors. Such brokerage can have both individual consequences and consequences for the network as a whole. While traditional approaches to brokerage focus primarily on counting brokerage instances, our framework expands this perspective by examining three important dimensions of brokerage—brokerage activity, exclusivity, and diversity—focusing both on different established brokerage roles and in total. This comprehensive approach can provide insights into how knowledge flows, innovations spread, and power dynamics operate within scientific and technological networks.
In STS, understanding brokerage can, therefore, be essential for examining how knowledge crosses disciplinary boundaries, how innovations spread throughout research communities, and how certain actors gain influence by controlling information flows. It has been applied in STS, but our three-dimensional framework allows researchers to distinguish between different brokerage patterns that the conventional approach may conflate. For instance, it can differentiate between highly active brokers who connect many otherwise disconnected actors and those who serve as exclusive pathways between specific groups—a crucial distinction when studying gatekeeping in scientific communities.
We demonstrate this three-dimensional framework and its applicability with an empirical example of a collaborative governance network of actors mitigating flood risk together. By applying it to STS contexts, researchers may better understand the structural foundations of scientific innovation, disciplinary integration, and knowledge production. The paper contributes to the growing methodological toolkit for network-based research in STS and offers new perspectives on the relational structures underlying scientific and technological development. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to conference
publication status
published
subject
keywords
brokerage, role, social network analysis
conference name
ISA RC33's 11th International Conference on Social Science Methodology
conference location
Naples, Italy
conference dates
2025-09-22 - 2025-09-25
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
003b636d-3707-4a33-9ec4-891b8f6354ae
alternative location
https://easychair.org/smart-program/11ICSSM/2025-09-25.html
date added to LUP
2025-09-28 10:54:22
date last changed
2025-09-29 10:06:14
@misc{003b636d-3707-4a33-9ec4-891b8f6354ae,
  abstract     = {{This paper introduces a three-dimensional approach for analysing brokerage in social networks that has the potential to open new areas of research in Science and Technology Studies (STS). Brokerage is a fundamental concept in social network analysis, where it refers to situations in which actors bridge otherwise disconnected actors. Such brokerage can have both individual consequences and consequences for the network as a whole. While traditional approaches to brokerage focus primarily on counting brokerage instances, our framework expands this perspective by examining three important dimensions of brokerage—brokerage activity, exclusivity, and diversity—focusing both on different established brokerage roles and in total. This comprehensive approach can provide insights into how knowledge flows, innovations spread, and power dynamics operate within scientific and technological networks.<br/>In STS, understanding brokerage can, therefore, be essential for examining how knowledge crosses disciplinary boundaries, how innovations spread throughout research communities, and how certain actors gain influence by controlling information flows. It has been applied in STS, but our three-dimensional framework allows researchers to distinguish between different brokerage patterns that the conventional approach may conflate. For instance, it can differentiate between highly active brokers who connect many otherwise disconnected actors and those who serve as exclusive pathways between specific groups—a crucial distinction when studying gatekeeping in scientific communities.<br/>We demonstrate this three-dimensional framework and its applicability with an empirical example of a collaborative governance network of actors mitigating flood risk together. By applying it to STS contexts, researchers may better understand the structural foundations of scientific innovation, disciplinary integration, and knowledge production. The paper contributes to the growing methodological toolkit for network-based research in STS and offers new perspectives on the relational structures underlying scientific and technological development.}},
  author       = {{Becker, Per}},
  keywords     = {{brokerage; role; social network analysis}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  title        = {{A three-dimensional approach to brokerage in networks : Potential applications in STS}},
  url          = {{https://easychair.org/smart-program/11ICSSM/2025-09-25.html}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}