Harnessing the Power of Social Network Analysis in Medical Education
The medical education scenery is continually changing, calling for innovative ways to support learning processes and outcomes. This letter is devoted to introducing the potential of social network analysis (SNA) as an efficient educational innovation to support medical education. Through the investi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Advances in Medical Education and Professionalism |
| Online Access: | https://jamp.sums.ac.ir/article_50995_9e72c74b7cf667463e191d32a51a987c.pdf |
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| author | EHSAN TOOFANINEJAD MASOMEH KALNTARION ZEINAB MOTLAGH SEYYED KAZEM BANIHASHEM OMID NOROOZI |
| author_facet | EHSAN TOOFANINEJAD MASOMEH KALNTARION ZEINAB MOTLAGH SEYYED KAZEM BANIHASHEM OMID NOROOZI |
| author_sort | EHSAN TOOFANINEJAD |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The medical education scenery is continually changing, calling for innovative ways to support learning processes and outcomes. This letter is devoted to introducing the potential of social network analysis (SNA) as an efficient educational innovation to support medical education. Through the investigation of the connections and interactions within a network, SNA brings to light complex social dynamics that can scaffold learning processes and outcomes in medical education. In this letter, we explain the role of SNA in fostering collaboration, engagement, knowledge sharing, and professionalized education among medical students and educators. We also talk about the role of node analysis (individuals) and edge analysis (relationships) to determine influential structures, knowledge brokers, and blocks in collaboration. We discuss that personalized insights gained from SNA can guide educators to provide timely and tailored interventions. In addition, SNA can reveal hidden curricula and informal networks of learning, and evaluate teamwork and communication skills efficiently. The letter also outlines how SNA can be used to deal with students’ loneliness in social learning settings and professional fatigue through the early establishment of supportive networks and peer mentoring occasions. Backed up with evidence from the relevant research, this letter accentuates the positive impact of SNA on medical education by capitalizing on the formation of interpersonal relationships and collaboration. We conclude that by gaining a deep insight into the social connection dynamics, educators can support the knowledge exchange and support the learning processes and outcomes of medical students and future health professionals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-af8054de8a2949c09d60040de76bfc10 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2322-2220 2322-3561 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Shiraz University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Advances in Medical Education and Professionalism |
| spelling | doaj-art-af8054de8a2949c09d60040de76bfc102025-08-20T03:29:48ZengShiraz University of Medical SciencesJournal of Advances in Medical Education and Professionalism2322-22202322-35612025-07-0113325425510.30476/jamp.2024.102337.197050995Harnessing the Power of Social Network Analysis in Medical EducationEHSAN TOOFANINEJAD0MASOMEH KALNTARION1ZEINAB MOTLAGH2SEYYED KAZEM BANIHASHEM3OMID NOROOZI4Department of eLearning in Medical Sciences, School of Medical Education and Learning Technologies, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Medical Education, School of Medical Education and Learning Technologies, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Medical Education, School of Medical Education and Learning Technologies, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranEducation and Learning Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands Department of Online Learning and Instruction, Open Universiteit, Heerlen, The NetherlandsEducation and Learning Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsThe medical education scenery is continually changing, calling for innovative ways to support learning processes and outcomes. This letter is devoted to introducing the potential of social network analysis (SNA) as an efficient educational innovation to support medical education. Through the investigation of the connections and interactions within a network, SNA brings to light complex social dynamics that can scaffold learning processes and outcomes in medical education. In this letter, we explain the role of SNA in fostering collaboration, engagement, knowledge sharing, and professionalized education among medical students and educators. We also talk about the role of node analysis (individuals) and edge analysis (relationships) to determine influential structures, knowledge brokers, and blocks in collaboration. We discuss that personalized insights gained from SNA can guide educators to provide timely and tailored interventions. In addition, SNA can reveal hidden curricula and informal networks of learning, and evaluate teamwork and communication skills efficiently. The letter also outlines how SNA can be used to deal with students’ loneliness in social learning settings and professional fatigue through the early establishment of supportive networks and peer mentoring occasions. Backed up with evidence from the relevant research, this letter accentuates the positive impact of SNA on medical education by capitalizing on the formation of interpersonal relationships and collaboration. We conclude that by gaining a deep insight into the social connection dynamics, educators can support the knowledge exchange and support the learning processes and outcomes of medical students and future health professionals.https://jamp.sums.ac.ir/article_50995_9e72c74b7cf667463e191d32a51a987c.pdf |
| spellingShingle | EHSAN TOOFANINEJAD MASOMEH KALNTARION ZEINAB MOTLAGH SEYYED KAZEM BANIHASHEM OMID NOROOZI Harnessing the Power of Social Network Analysis in Medical Education Journal of Advances in Medical Education and Professionalism |
| title | Harnessing the Power of Social Network Analysis in Medical Education |
| title_full | Harnessing the Power of Social Network Analysis in Medical Education |
| title_fullStr | Harnessing the Power of Social Network Analysis in Medical Education |
| title_full_unstemmed | Harnessing the Power of Social Network Analysis in Medical Education |
| title_short | Harnessing the Power of Social Network Analysis in Medical Education |
| title_sort | harnessing the power of social network analysis in medical education |
| url | https://jamp.sums.ac.ir/article_50995_9e72c74b7cf667463e191d32a51a987c.pdf |
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