Learning in networks: A systematic review of public administration research
(2017) General Conference of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) — Location: Oslo, Norway (7.September.2017)
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- Authors
Riche, Cécile 
- Abstract
- Policy networks play a decisive role in solving complex public problems by fostering individual and collective learning processes. In networks, transfers of information and deliberation can facilitate individual acquisition of information and cognitive changes. In turn, individual learning can foster the development of collective understandings of public problems and solutions, as well as joint action. Surprisingly enough, however, public administration research lacks an overview of existing studies on the influence of networks on learning processes. Building on a review of 39 public administration studies collected and analyzed with the PRISMA method, the objective of this paper is to provide such an overview. Our statistics demonstrate that a majority of the reviewed articles are conceptual and relates to the management of natural resources. Methodologically speaking, case studies and surveys are most common within the empirical works but social network analysis becomes popular. Our findings point to two main gaps in our understanding of the causal chain between networks and learning processes. On the one hand, existing studies demonstrate that learning is influenced by factors operating at different levels, within networks. However, few studies assess the relative importance of those factors at different levels at the same time. On the other hand, existing research remains limited on the processes through which individual learning becomes collective, which we relate to weaknesses in the conceptualization and measurement of learning. All in all, this review demonstrates that network characteristics have a key role in shaping learning processes. We conclude with an agenda for future studies in public administration research on learning within networks.
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Citations
Riche, C., Aubin, D., & Moyson, S. (2017). Learning in networks: A systematic review of public administration research. General Conference of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), Oslo, Norway. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/222157