The Actual Situation of Information Sharing by Word of Mouth and Challenges for the Improvement in Rural Areas: Quantitative Study through Social Network Analysis by Utilizing 2-mode Data focusing on Receiving Organization Affi liations

Nowadays, community-based organizations in rural areas are restructured to complement the weakened functionalities of communities. Such newly created organizations often undertake some projects purposes of which are to vitalize their own areas. It's important to share information and knowledge of the projects requiring citizen participation. In this study, we clarified the actual situation and problems of information sharing in rural areas by utilizing social network analysis. Through a questionnaire survey conducted at 3 districts in Kyoto prefecture, we made 2-mode graphs and analyzed network indicators obtained from the graphs. We found that information is mainly conveyed in person or through regional media and residents with information are located in advantageous positions in the regional social networks.