Identifying Opinion Leaders and Elites: A Longitudinal Design

The term longitudinal design refers to a fl exible research approach that can be applied to a wide range of topics involving change over time. Longitudinal refers to both the data collected and the methods of analysis used, and project designs can combine several datagathering and analysis methods within a longitudinal framework. Longitudinal research demonstrates several features that permit the observation of process and change and facilitate identifi cation and evaluation of the underlying factors. Several library and information science studies demonstrate the application of a longitudinal approach to both prospective and retrospective research questions. This article draws primarily on a longitudinal study of leaders who emerged in the archival profession during the 1980s when archivists developed the fi rst set of descriptive standards (MARC AMC) in response to trends in the automation of library cataloging. The study identifi ed a core group of leaders whose infl uence drove the archival profession to move in a specifi c direction. The identifi cation of opinion leaders and elites, and the factors that led to their status, has signifi cant implications for understanding patterns of decision making and communication within organizations. Introduction The terms longitudinal design and longitudinal analysis apply to a wide range of research studies conducted within many social science disciplines. The concept of longitudinal research relates to both the nature of the data and the methods of analysis. Because researchers can use a longitudinal approach in combination with other methods, as well as by itself, the lonIdentifying Opinion Leaders and Elites: A Longitudinal Design