Social Network Analysis in Undergraduate and Postgraduate Medical Education: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Purpose Social network analysis (SNA) is a theoretical framework and analytical approach used to study relationships among individuals and groups. While SNA has been employed by many disciplines to understand social structures and dynamics of interpersonal relationships, little is known about its use in medical education. Mapping and synthesizing the scope of SNA in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education can inform educational practice and research. Method This scoping review was based on searches conducted in Medline, Embase, Scopus, and ERIC in December 2020 and updated in March 2022. After removal of duplicates, the search strategy yielded 5,284 records, of which 153 met initial inclusion criteria. Team members conducted full-text reviews, extracted relevant data, and conducted descriptive and thematic analyses to determine how SNA has been used as a theoretical and analytical approach in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. Results Thirty studies, from 11 countries, were retained. Most studies focused on undergraduate medical students, primarily in online environments, and explored students’ friendships, information sharing, and advice seeking through SNA. Few studies included residents and attending staff. Findings suggested that SNA can be a helpful tool for monitoring students’ interactions in online courses and clinical clerkships. SNA can also be used to examine the impact of social networks on achievement, the influence of social support and informal learning outside the classroom, and the role of homophily in learning. In clinical settings, SNA can help explore team dynamics and knowledge exchange among medical trainees. Conclusions While SNA has been underutilized in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, findings indicate that SNA can help uncover the structure and impact of social networks in the classroom and the clinical setting. SNA can also be used to help design educational experiences, monitor learning, and evaluate pedagogical interventions. Future directions for SNA research in medical education are described.

Exploiting Properties of Student Networks to Enhance Learning in Distance Education

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Exploring Advice-Seeking Dynamics in Undergraduate Medical Research: A Social Network Analysis

“…While SNA has gained the spotlight in medical education [7][8][9] , its application in undergraduate and postgraduate education remains limited 7 , particularly within undergraduate research. This study represents the rst attempt to empirically explore the social dynamics of advice-seeking behaviors within the undergraduate research community.…”

“…To gain insight into the social mechanisms driving success, we must quantify and assess these interactions. Social network analysis (SNA) emerges as a powerful tool for understanding the complex dynamics of mentorship 7 and how they in uence research outcomes. SNA allows us to visualize adviceseeking interaction and identify patterns of advice-seeking within a community 8 .…”