Virtual Communities

Online Components of Social Capital

by András Déri

Paper presented at the International Conference on Communication, Media, Technology and Design, Istanbul, 10 May 2012.
For referring to this paper please check the original link of the conference publication, this version is clearer and more readable.

Increasingly widespread online presence has significantly changed typical ways of contacting others and maintaining... more Increasingly widespread online presence has significantly changed typical ways of contacting others and maintaining social connections. Traditionally, social capital has been described as a resource that lies in a person’s social connections, or – as a collective characteristic – social networks, which lead to reciprocity, solidarity and trust. The advent of social media fundamentally has challenged sociologists’ views on what the components of social capital are and how social ties build up networks and indicate the resources within an individual’s networks. I argue that for a better understanding of online social capital, we have to differentiate between two different types of online connections: connections based on mutual acquaintance and connections based on online activities. While the characteristics of network capital (defined as productive combinations of social connections, technology, and technological skills) can be found in both types of online connections, it is latent ties that are more characteristic of connections based on online activities.

Bauer Béla—Déri András: Hálózathoz kötődve – a fiatalok online hálói

by András Déri

A link a teljes Arctalan (?) Nemzedék tanulmánykötet letöltéséhez vezet.

Title in English: Connected to the net: Online youth networks
Published in:: Arctalan (?) nemzedék. Ed. by: Bauer Béla & Szabó Andrea, NCSSZI, Budapest, 2011., p. 283-292.

English abstract (text only in Hungarian):

This study investigates the consequences of growing digital... more English abstract (text only in Hungarian):

This study investigates the consequences of growing digital literacy and online presence of young people with an overview of the literature on these questions and an outline of the main directions of future research. If we interpret the new spaces of virtual social action provided by new channels of communication as social spaces, we can understand the nature of the participants’ networks – especially the network’s normative characteristics and growth, as well as the diffusion within the network. We can also understand and describe the specific capitals of network members.

Examining Online Communications: A Method for the Quantitative Analysis of Qualitative Data

by Jennifer Griffith

Byrne, C. L., Hughes, M. G., Nei, D. S., Griffith, J. A., Harkrider, L. N., Zeni, T. A., Shipman, A. S., Allen, M. T., Angie, A. D., Ruark, G. A., Davis, J.L., Connelly, S., Mumford, M. D., & O'Hair, H. D. Examining online communications: A Method for quantitative analysis of qualitative data. Unpublished manuscript.

Means of individual communication continue to expand through online media, such as message board forums, chat rooms,... more Means of individual communication continue to expand through online media, such as message board forums, chat rooms, blogs, and social networking sites. Given the dynamic nature of online communications, traditional methods for studying communications may not suffice. A hybridized content analytic approach that combines qualitative and quantitative methods is suggested as a flexible alternative. The proposed method of content analysis offers a new methodological tool to researchers who seek to better understand computer mediated communications. The proposed content analytic approach is discussed along with methodological considerations associated with the content analysis of online communications. Implementation of the suggested method to online communities is described. Advantages and disadvantages associated with the hybridized approach of content analysis are also considered. Additionally, ethical considerations of sampling from online communications sources are examined.

Tensions in compliance for renal patients – how renal discussion groups conceive knowledge and safe care

by Natalya Godbold

Godbold, N. In press, ‘Tensions in compliance for renal patients – how renal discussion groups conceive knowledge and safe care’, Health Sociology Review, vol. special issue.

Communautés Virtuelles et Communication Médiatisée par Ordinateur - Analyse de Formes de « Ritualisation Sociale »

by Sylvie Grosjean

Creating Value that Changes Lives: online communities for the disabled or chronically unwell

by Susan Stewart Loane

Co-authored with Dr. Steven D'Alessandro
Presented at Australian New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference, Perth, Western Australia, November 28-30, 2011.

People who suffer chronic illness or significant disability often find it difficult to participate in normal... more People who suffer chronic illness or significant disability often find it difficult to participate in normal neighbourhood community life.  Both the sufferer and their carers and family lose contact with neighbours, friends and the workplace and are unable to participate meaningfully.  This study uses qualitative methods to examine online health communities for people suffering from two degenerative neurological diseases, Parkinson’s Disease and Motor Neuron Disease and finds that participants in these online communities are creating peer-to-peer value through social capital exchange and a vibrant exchange of social support.  The study finds that participation in online health communities can provide opportunities to significantly improve the lives of people who are disabled or chronically unwell.

A reconsideration of personal boundaries in space-time

by Paul Adams

An appropriate image of the person for geographers is an entity with fluctuating boundaries that reach through space... more An appropriate image of the person for geographers is an entity with fluctuating boundaries that reach through space and time in constantly changing patterns. Such extensions through space and time are not merely "internal" or psychological states of being in the world; they are integral to economic, political, and cultural processes. Human extensibility is fundamental to the ongoing processes of social structuration in which social practices are constitutive of social structures and social structures constrain persons and practices. Whereas the body is a point-entity located at a particular space-time, important aspects of personhood are not confined to this point entity. Authority depends on ranges of sensation, knowledge, and action through diverse communication sysstesm. While extensibility is partly determined by the body, as categorized by society, the distinction between presence and absence can be considered as a gradation rather than a binary opposition. Extensibility transcends the body, allowing a person to overcome social and physical limitations and to participate in distant social contexts which affect his or her personal situation and shape social processes.

Game Studies ? à la française !

by Manuel Boutet

Ce week-end d’études du jeu vidéo « à la française » a lieu à Paris les 7 et 8 mai. Dans une perspective très ouverte... more Ce week-end d’études du jeu vidéo « à la française » a lieu à Paris les 7 et 8 mai. Dans une perspective très ouverte à toutes les approches, il s’agit de replacer dans leurs histoires et leurs traditions singulières les recherches menées sur les jeux vidéo en sciences sociales et sciences humaines. Ce week-end n’aurait pas vu le jour sans le travail remarquable mené au cours des dix dernières années, et c’est ce travail qu’il s’agit de célébrer et mieux connaître. Il sera l’occasion conviviale de nous retrouver, de nous comprendre, de prolonger nos collaborations
et d’en ouvrir de nouvelles.

Les propositions d’intervention sont signalées aussitôt que possible aux organisateurs (ie. avant et indépendamment de l’envoi du texte).

Les textes de préparation des présentations seront :
- attendus en avril ;
- soit individuels soit collectifs, notamment sous forme de « duos intergénérationnels » ;
- en 4 parties de 2000 à 3000 signes chacune, sans compter une à trois références pour chaque partie – ainsi qu’une bibliographie générale facultative ;
- les 4 parties du texte à envoyer sont décrites précisément plus bas : les ancrages de la recherche ; la curiosité et les doutes ; les enquêtes ; l’objet construit.

Investigative Management and Consumer Research on the Internet

by Peter Lugosi

A final version of this paper will be published as Lugosi, P., Janta, H. and Watson, P. (2012) Investigative Management and Consumer Research on the Internet. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management Vol. 24, No. 6. Please consult the final published version if citing.

This paper introduces the notion of Investigative Research on the Internet (IRI) and conceptualises its processes... more This paper introduces the notion of Investigative Research on the Internet (IRI) and conceptualises its processes through the principle of streaming. It discusses the similarities and differences between IRI and netnography and considers various aspects of the IRI process, including site selection, sampling, data collection and analysis. It is argued that streaming can help to understand the processes involved in conducting netnographic research. Moreover, it is suggested that streaming is a more appropriate way to conceptualise some internet-based studies that do not conform to netnographic or ethnographic ideals. Three international empirical cases are used to illustrate the application of IRI and streaming in research on international workers, consumer cultures and on emerging business phenomena.

How are Australian higher education institutions contributing to change through innovative teaching and learning in virtual worlds?

by Sue Gregory

Gregory, B., Gregory, S., Wood, D., Masters, Y., Hillier, M., Stokes-Thompson, F., Bogdanovych, A., Butler, D., Hay, L., Jegathesan., J.J., Flintoff, F., Schutt, S., Linegar, D., Alderton, R., Cram, A., Stupans, I., McKeown Orwin, L., Meredith, G., McCormick, D., Collins, F., Grenfell, J., Zagami, J., Ellis, A., Jacka, L., Campbell, J., Larson, I., Fluck, A., Thomas, A., Farley, F., Muldoon, N., Abbas, A., Sinnappan, S., Neville, K., Burnett, I., Aitken, A., Simoff , S., Scutter, S., Wang, X., Souter, K., Ellis, D., Salomon, M.,Wadley, G., Jacobson, M., Newstead, A., Hayes, G., Grant, S., Yusupova, A. (2011). How are Australian higher education institutions contributing to change through innovative teaching and learning in virtual worlds? In G. Williams, P. Statham, N. Brown, & B. Cleland (Eds.), Changing Demands, Changing Directions. Proceedings ascilite Hobart 2011 (pp. 475-590). Presented at the ascilite2011, Hobart: Univeristy of Tasmania. Retrieved from http://www.leishman-associates.com.au/ascilite2011/downloads/papers/Gregory-full.pdf

Over the past decade, teaching and learning in virtual worlds has been at the forefront of many higher education... more Over the past decade, teaching and learning in virtual worlds has been at the forefront of many higher education institutions around the world. The DEHub Virtual Worlds Working Group (VWWG) consisting of Australian and New Zealand higher education academics was formed in 2009. These educators are investigating the role that virtual worlds play in the future of education and actively changing the direction of their own teaching practice and curricula. 47 academics reporting on 28 Australian higher education institutions present an overview of how they have changed directions through the effective use of virtual worlds for diverse teaching and learning activities such as business scenarios and virtual excursions, role-play simulations, experimentation and language development. The case studies offer insights into the ways in which institutions are continuing to change directions in their teaching to meet changing demands for innovative teaching, learning and research in virtual worlds. This paper highlights the ways in which the authors are using virtual worlds to create opportunities for rich, immersive and authentic activities that would be difficult or not possible to achieve through more traditional approaches.

The role of the rule of law in virtual communities

by Nic Suzor

Berkeley Tech L J (2010)

Creating Online Collaborative Environments for Museums: A case study of a museum wiki

by Jonathan Bowen

Alison H.-Y. Liu (National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan) and Jonathan P. Bowen. International Journal of Web Based Communities, 7(4):407-428, 2011. Special issue on Designing Shared Spaces for Collaborative Creativity.
DOI: 10.1504/IJWBC.2011.042988

Museums have been increasingly adopting Web 2.0 technology to reach and interact with their visitors. Some have... more Museums have been increasingly adopting Web 2.0 technology to reach and interact with their visitors. Some have experimented with wikis to allow both curators and visitors to provide complementary information about objects in the museum. An example of this is the Object Wiki from the Science Museum in London. Little has been done to study these interactions in an academic framework. In the field of knowledge management, the concept of 'communities of practice' has been posited as a suitable structure in which to study how knowledge is developed within a community with a common interest in a particular domain, using a sociological approach. Previously this has been used in investigating the management of knowledge within business organisations, teachers' professional development, and online e-learning communities. The authors apply this approach to a museum-based wiki to assess its applicability for such an endeavour.

Net compatible: the economic and social dynamics of e-commerce

by Robin Mansell

Co-authored with W E Steinmueller and Ingrid Schenk 1998

Front Porches and Public Spaces: Planned Communities Online

by Susan Hamburg Huelsing Sarapin

This article presents and critically assesses the person-centered, non-technical mechanisms by which organic Internet... more This article presents and critically assesses the person-centered, non-technical mechanisms by which organic Internet communities are initiated and sustained, the principles and practices that form the foundation for these communities, and the methods used to maintain them and by which their viability can be evaluated. It first takes a look at the history of communities on the Web by tracing the origin of purposive community construction online to the WELL, The Whole Earth ‘Lectronic Link, formed as a commercial enterprise in 1985. It then addresses the characteristics, scale, and affordances of an earthly prototype, the first American planned community called Seaside in Florida. Finally, there is a discussion about the meaning of a “sense of community,” its components of membership, influence, fulfillment of needs, and shared emotional connection, and how these inform the core mechanisms and principles for building and maintaining virtual community.

Loisirs numériques et communautés virtuelles : des espaces d'apprentissage ?

by Vincent Berry

Berry Vincent, « Loisirs numériques et communautés virtuelles : des espaces d'apprentissage ? », in Brougère Gilles, Ulmann Anne-Lise (dir.), Apprendre de la vie quotidienne, Presses Universitaires de France, 2009, pp. 143-153.

Jouer aux jeux vidéo en ligne, « draguer » sur Internet, faire partie d’une communauté de fans de Britney Spears, de... more Jouer aux jeux vidéo en ligne, « draguer » sur Internet, faire partie d’une communauté de fans de Britney Spears, de collectionneur de timbres, de lecteurs de Platon, être patron d'un bar dans Second Life, ... toutes ces pratiques dites « virtuelles » ont remis au goût du jour des notions anciennes et fondamentales en sciences sociales. On parle en effet aujourd'hui de communauté virtuelles ou encore de tribus informatiques pour caractériser des personnes qui, ne se connaissant pas nécessairement physiquement, échangent régulièrement des informations via un système de communication informatique. On trouve une littérature scientifique de plus en plus riche qui s'intéresse à ces regroupements dans des perspectives et des disciplines diverses. Que ce soit des groupes consacrés au développement de logiciel libres, des guildes de joueurs, des adolescent(e)s qui «tchatent» dans des salons de discussions, ces communautés virtuelles interrogent aujourd'hui bon nombre de chercheurs non seulement, dans une perspective sociométrique, sur les propriétés de leurs agrégations (comment se regroupe-t-on, comment se forment-ces communautés) mais aussi sur le potentiel de ces regroupement en terme d'apprentissage, de formation, de transmissions des savoirs. Autrement dit, comment des pratiques et des communautés non pensées pour l'éducation mais pour le « fun », « la drague », « le plaisir » ou « le jeu » peuvent être porteuses d'apprentissages ?

The power of personalization: Customer collaboration and virtual communities

by Petra Schubert

Full reference: Schubert, Petra; Koch, Michael (2002): The Power of Personalization: Customer Collaboration and Virtual Communities. Proceedings of the Eighth Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), 2002.

Using electronic media for interaction with customers enables enterprises to integrate customer activity and knowledge... more Using electronic media for interaction with customers enables enterprises to integrate customer activity and knowledge about customers resulting in a high-quality relationship thus turning buying processes more efficient. In this paper we review the basics of personalization – how it works, where it can be used (the applications) and what makes it work (the enablers). Our discussion is structured around the four steps of the customer profile life cycle: modelling customer profiles, data input, data processing, and information output.

Adonis or Atrocious Wood and Solomon 2011

by Michael Solomon

Sources of knowledge acquisition for Chinese software engineers

by Dimitris Assimakopoulos

Regina Célia Pinto's Museum of the Essential and beyond That

by Margaret Anne Clarke

Published in Niamh Thornton, Patricia O'Byrne and Gabrielle Carty, (Eds) (2010) Transcultural Encounters Amongst Women: Redrawing Boundaries in Hispanic and Lusophone Art, Literature and Film. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

This chapter offers an overview and analysis of the virtual art gallery and museum constructed by the Brazilian and... more This chapter offers an overview and analysis of the virtual art gallery and museum constructed by the Brazilian and internet and digital artist and curator, Regina Célia Pinto. The Museu do Essencial e Além Disso (The Museum of the Essential and Beyond That) displays digital writing and art works by a community of Brazilian and international artists, all engaging with larger global realities brought about by virtual and electronic networks. This is also true of  Pinto's own cyberart, housed in the museum. The chapter focuses more closely on one of these creations, The Great Earth Mother Cyborg, a blog converted into a  'space of poeisis' which takes the trope of the cyborg to  debate narratives of the creative process and the relationship of the human with nature and technology, integrating ideas drawn both from Western science and 'evolution' as depicted through creation narratives - principally those of the Maori - of the Global South.

SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES AS A TYPE OF VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES €“PROCESSING AS A MARKETING COMMUNICATION CHANNEL

by Erkan Akar