Researchers collecting survey data on inter-organizational networks typically choose a single informant with the most senior job title in each organization from whom to obtain a report of the organization’s inter-organizational ties. This approach to informant selection is based on the logic that greater seniority confers greater knowledge of inter-organizational relationships. The present study investigated the wisdom of this logic, using data in which multiple informants’ reports of inter-organizational network ties were collected for each organization. We calculated the degree of agreement in network reports between the informant with the most senior job title and a second informant in the organization. To determine if alternative criteria to seniority serve as better approaches to informant selection, we assessed other potential predictors of agreement in informants’ reports. Results indicated that (1) informants’ perceptions of the network differed significantly according to job title, suggesting little agreement between senior informants and their more junior colleagues; and (2) greater informant tenure in the network and industry were associated with greater agreement among informants. These results call a common data collection practice into question and suggest that tenure may trump title as a criterion for informant selection in inter-organizational network research.

中文翻译：

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任期胜过标题：评估组织间网络研究中线人选择的逻辑

收集组织间网络调查数据的研究人员通常会选择在每个组织中具有最高职位的单个线人，从他们那里获得组织间组织关系的报告。这种选择线人的方法是基于这样的逻辑，即更高的资历赋予对组织间关系的更多知识。本研究调查了这种逻辑的智慧，使用的数据是为每个组织收集多个信息提供者关于组织间网络联系的报告。我们计算了网络报告中具有最高职位的线人与组织中的第二名线人之间的一致程度。为了确定替代资历的标准是否可以作为选择线人的更好方法，我们评估了线人报告中其他潜在的一致预测因素。结果表明：（1）线人对网络的看法因职称而有显着差异，表明高级线人与其资历较浅的同事之间几乎没有一致性；(2) 网络和行业的线人任期越长，线人之间的一致性越高。这些结果对常见的数据收集实践提出了质疑，并表明在跨组织网络研究中，任期可能会胜过头衔作为信息选择的标准。(2) 网络和行业的线人任期越长，线人之间的一致性越高。这些结果对常见的数据收集实践提出了质疑，并表明在跨组织网络研究中，任期可能会胜过头衔作为信息选择的标准。(2) 网络和行业的线人任期越长，线人之间的一致性越高。这些结果对常见的数据收集实践提出了质疑，并表明在跨组织网络研究中，任期可能会胜过头衔作为信息选择的标准。