Technical Policy Briefing Notes - 1
Summary of Methods and Case Study Examples from the MEDIATION Project
Socio-Institutional Analysis
Policy Briefs
Summary Methods and Case Study Examples
Socio-Institutional Analysis
Alongside the focus on uncertainty, there is
also a growing recognition of the role of socioinstitutional issues in
climate adaptation. The IPCC special report on extreme events (IPCC,
2012) confirms the viewpoint of adaptation as a socio-institutional
process, defining adaptation as a process of adjustment to the actual
or expected climate and its effects, in order to moderate harm or
exploit beneficial opportunities.
There is an increasing body of research on the role of socio-institutional networks in climate adaptation. Berkhout et al., (2006) found that many of the resources required for carrying out the process of adaptation lie outside the boundary of a particular organization, and Moser and Ekstrom (2010) report that barriers to adaptation often arise from institutional and cognitive constraints. Downing (2012) contrasts a predict-and-provide viewpoint with a processbased understanding of adaptation.
These studies highlight that the inter-relationships between organisations are influential in determining how (and if) adaptation processes will occur. Following from this, it is important to identify the existing socio-institutional landscape and feedback processes in climate adaptation research, to speed up the necessary ‘climateadapted routines and capability to be developed’ (Berkhout et al., 2006).
These findings have led to an increased interest in adaptation governance, using behavioural and institutional analysis to understand and overcome individual and social constraints. This process-based understanding requires a ‘mapping’ of the problem framing and actors.
One such approach for understanding these issues is Social Network Analysis (SNA). SNA is a method that analyses social networks and institutional actors (i.e. organizations, individuals, interest groups, etc.) and their linkages and socio-institutional relationships. It allows a mapping of the influence and the exchange of information and can therefore help in assessing adaptive capacity.
SNA explores socio-institutional processes, and identifies the context and governance around decisions. It highlights institutional arrangements and structures, decision framing of actors, their approach to dealing with information, the competence for action, and the laws, regulations, values and norms that are likely to guide decisions.
SNA can be undertaken using qualitative or quantitative methods. The qualitative approach focuses on network mapping and provides visual representations of networks, actors and information flows. This is usually undertaken as part of participatory analysis, revealing insights about these relationships, the various flows between actors and the perceptions of influence and power in the network.
The quantitative analysis is more comprehensive, considering whole networks and undertaking analysis using software and standard statistical tests. This provides a deeper analysis of institutional aspects, providing variety of measures/indicators to help describe the overall relational structure of a social network, as well as the roles of individuals within it.
SNA has high relevance for adaptation, reflecting the growing consensus and the focus on building adaptive capacity. The organisational knowledge, responsibility and strategies can be assessed, and potential barriers to adaptation can be revealed and subsequently negotiated. It can also investigate how actors and organisation address uncertainty, i.e. how decisions are framed and their choice of appraisal tools.
There is an increasing body of research on the role of socio-institutional networks in climate adaptation. Berkhout et al., (2006) found that many of the resources required for carrying out the process of adaptation lie outside the boundary of a particular organization, and Moser and Ekstrom (2010) report that barriers to adaptation often arise from institutional and cognitive constraints. Downing (2012) contrasts a predict-and-provide viewpoint with a processbased understanding of adaptation.
These studies highlight that the inter-relationships between organisations are influential in determining how (and if) adaptation processes will occur. Following from this, it is important to identify the existing socio-institutional landscape and feedback processes in climate adaptation research, to speed up the necessary ‘climateadapted routines and capability to be developed’ (Berkhout et al., 2006).
These findings have led to an increased interest in adaptation governance, using behavioural and institutional analysis to understand and overcome individual and social constraints. This process-based understanding requires a ‘mapping’ of the problem framing and actors.
One such approach for understanding these issues is Social Network Analysis (SNA). SNA is a method that analyses social networks and institutional actors (i.e. organizations, individuals, interest groups, etc.) and their linkages and socio-institutional relationships. It allows a mapping of the influence and the exchange of information and can therefore help in assessing adaptive capacity.
SNA explores socio-institutional processes, and identifies the context and governance around decisions. It highlights institutional arrangements and structures, decision framing of actors, their approach to dealing with information, the competence for action, and the laws, regulations, values and norms that are likely to guide decisions.
SNA can be undertaken using qualitative or quantitative methods. The qualitative approach focuses on network mapping and provides visual representations of networks, actors and information flows. This is usually undertaken as part of participatory analysis, revealing insights about these relationships, the various flows between actors and the perceptions of influence and power in the network.
The quantitative analysis is more comprehensive, considering whole networks and undertaking analysis using software and standard statistical tests. This provides a deeper analysis of institutional aspects, providing variety of measures/indicators to help describe the overall relational structure of a social network, as well as the roles of individuals within it.
SNA has high relevance for adaptation, reflecting the growing consensus and the focus on building adaptive capacity. The organisational knowledge, responsibility and strategies can be assessed, and potential barriers to adaptation can be revealed and subsequently negotiated. It can also investigate how actors and organisation address uncertainty, i.e. how decisions are framed and their choice of appraisal tools.
download this briefing note