LOGO

Abstract:
This workshop will review the history and the main components of diffusion of innovations theory. How social networks influence behavior change will be presented. The R library NetdiffuseR will be demonstrated but is not necessary for the workshop.
The workshop will then present the literature and theory on using network data for program implementation including network interventions. Example data and results are derived from studies across many application areas including tobacco and other substance abuse; family planning and reproductive health; physician behavior; coalitions; policy innovation; lifestyle changes; as well as others.

About person:
Tom W. Valente received a B.S. in Mathematics from Mary Washington College, an M.S. in Mass Communication from San Diego State University, and a Ph.D. from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California. He spent nine years at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health from 1991 to 2000 conducting research and teaching health communication, program evaluation, and network analysis before moving to the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Southern California.
Tom W. Valente uses social networks to conduct research on substance abuse prevention, treatment programs, and on the evaluation of health promotion programs. In addition he uses social networks to understand how policy is developed at the local and global level. He is the author of three books and over one hundred and forty journal articles and book chapters. He is well known for developing the social network threshold diffusion model and for his work on network based interventions to enable behaviour change. His last book was entitled Social Networks and Health, an area he has made his own.