Understanding the structure of influential ideas across a community
The Synap tool was used to create a network representation of the ideas across a number of government agencies in relation to a new community development initiative. Using the Synap platform, data from qualitative interviews and focus groups were analysed to determine themes. These themes were then analysed to identify the underlying structure. This structure shows the influential ideas across the group, and the ideas that connect up (broker) sub groups. Each of these measures are explained below, along with a link to the interactive Synap visualisation platform.
Use the Synap platform to:
- Identify the key ideas, i.e. the ideas that connect up disconnected groups; ideas to use to focus the communication message; and, ideas to work with to quickly spread a message across the group. It is these ideas that, as a group, should focus the communication message and inform any subsequent developments.
- Identify the ideas that have limited relationship to other ideas across the group(s). This helps focus a message, and highlights where there are some ideas that, while not important to most, may be key for some important stakeholder groups.
Value from using the Community Views Mapper
- A robust approach to present complex qualitative information back to the community/client in a simple and engaging format.
- Develop effective communication strategies by identifying the key ideas.
- Map the development of ideas over time.
- Identify ideas that connect up sub groups within the community.
Analysing the network of ideas:
To interact with the visualisations below click on the relevant link. In the window that opens you can click on the ideas to see what they are connected with. There is also an instructions button in the window that opens. Click on that button to get further instructions on how to use the interface.
Ideas that are 'connectors':
The ideas that are connectors provide pathways into ideas that are not well connected to one another. It is these ideas that can act as gatekeepers to ideas moving across groups.
Explore connectors in the interactive visualisation tool
Note - the Tool does not currently support Internet Explorer 8 or earlier versions. Click here for a pdf of connecting ideas across this community.
Ideas that are 'influencers':
Ideas that are influential in networks can control the flow of ideas because they are connected to other ideas that have multiple connections in the collective understanding, and to ideas that have very few other pathways to connect into the collective view.
Explore influential ideas in the interactive visualisation tool
Click here for a pdf of influential ideas across this community.