Bonne Zijlstra receives dissertation award
Methodologist develops unique social networking model
Last month Dr Bonne Zijlstra, methodologist and senior lecturer in the Department of Pedagogical and Educational Studies, was presented with the Psychometric Society's dissertation award. Zijlstra received the award for his dissertation entitled 'Random effects models for directed graphs with covariates', which was published last year.
When asked whether he is pleased with the award, Zijlstra responds with a hesitant 'Sure, you know...'. Though accolades do not seem to affect Zijlstra all that much, this in no way diminishes the Psychometric Society's decision to honour him with their best dissertation award. Zijlstra's work is a unique examination of a methodological model that can be applied by a broad range of researchers working in the fields of education, anthropology and sociology. His dissertation can be regarded as a more detailed version of an existing but limited model relating to interactions and independence within social networks. ‘A distinguishing feature of social networks is that all actors are connected to one another in a certain manner', says Zijlstra. ‘This new method makes it possible to model this dependence.'
Analysing bullying behaviour
The method has an impressive number of practical applications. For example, it can be used to analyse and explain bullying behaviour. ‘Bullying is a phenomenon very typical to social networks. Relationships that emerge and disappear based on bullying depend on popularity, as well as on certain features of relationships such as vulnerability and isolation. Applying the new model makes it possible to identify and link all these features and dependencies, in turn allowing researchers to gain a much deeper understanding of bullying behaviour.'
Zimbabwean insurance system
The model has also proven its worth in the fields of sociology and anthropology. As an example, Zijlstra offers the analysis of a situation in rural Zimbabwe, where an informal insurance system is in force. If crops fail or livestock die unexpectedly, people turn to other members of the community for help. ‘This signals the existence of informal assistance-based relationships. Using the model, we can examine which factors are effective predictors for the response to a call for help - for example, a postponed dowry.'
In addition to teaching, Zijlstra is currently conducting a study on a subject related to his dissertation topic: complex forms of cohesion.
Author: Esther van Bochove, FMG Communication Department
Photo: Marian Haringsma, Department of Pedagogical and Educational Studies