Dynamic models of affiliation and the network structure of problem solving in an open source software project

Conaldi, Guido, Lomi, Alessandro and Tonellato, Marco (2012) Dynamic models of affiliation and the network structure of problem solving in an open source software project. Organizational Research Methods. ISSN 1094-4281 (print), 1552-7425 (online) (In Press)

Abstract

Two-mode networks are used to describe dual patterns of association between distinct social entities through their joint involvement in categories, activities, issues, and events. In empirical organizational research the analysis of two-mode networks is typically accomplished either by (i) decomposition of the dual structure into its two unimodal components defined in terms of indirect relations between entities of the same kind, or (ii) direct statistical analysis of individual two-mode dyads. Both strategies are useful, but neither is fully satisfactory. In this paper we introduce newly developed stochastic actor-based models for two-mode networks that may be adopted to redress the limitations of current analytical strategies. We specify and estimate the model in the context of data we have collected on the dual association between software developers and software problems observed during a complete release cycle of an open source software project. We discuss the general methodological implications of our models for organizational research based on the empirical analysis of two-mode networks.

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