Record Details
The Role of Social Networks in Federal Agency Hiring: A Comparison of Employees from Diverse Backgrounds
ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | The Role of Social Networks in Federal Agency Hiring: A Comparison of Employees from Diverse Backgrounds |
| Names |
Moreno Luna, Arlyn Yire
(creator) Edwards, Mark (advisor) |
| Date Issued | 2015-04-17 (iso8601) |
| Note | Graduation date: 2015 |
| Abstract | Due to past hiring practices U.S. federal agencies have workforces that do not match the diversity of the populations they serve. In 2011, the Partnership for Public Service found that the United States Forest Service (USFS) ranked number 149 out of 206 agencies in the category of ‘Support for Diversity,’ inspiring new USFS efforts to promote diversity and inclusion. Little empirical research has examined the role of personal social networks during employment processes, and it is unknown whether or not understanding such networks might aid outreach and hiring to achieve a diverse workforce. This study used survey-based methods to investigate the potential role of social networks among USFS employees from underserved and better-served communities. I randomly sampled and then interviewed 183 employees of the Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station of the USFS, and examined if personal networks are involved in the processes of their being hired. Results indicated that: (1) males are more likely than females to use non-social means of finding out about their PNW jobs; and (2) white employees are more likely to have been informed about their job by males and non-white employees are more likely informed by females. Findings support the hypothesis that social networks play a role in underserved communities locating federal agency employment. |
| Genre | Research Paper |
| Topic | Social Policy |
| Identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/1957/55780 |
