Online Communities and Social Cohesion

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Online Communities and Social Cohesion

• Sara Ferlander
• SCHEMA
• University of Stirling
• Scotland

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Definitions

• Computer-Supported Community Network (CSCN) - a
  Community Connected to an Intranet dealing with
  local issues
• Social Cohesion - existence of Support, Networks,
  Trust and Local Identity
• Social Inclusion - Participation in the Community

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Research Question

• To what extent can the use of CIT (Communication
  and Information Technology) (re-)create social
  inclusion and cohesion in local communities?

4
Literature

• CIT as a vehicle for enhancing Cohesion and
  Inclusion.
• CIT as a Threat to Cohesion and Inclusion.

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Literature

• Just as TV produces couch potatoes, so online
  culture creates mouse potatoes, people who hide
  from real life and spend their whole life goofing
  off in cyberspace. (McClelland, 199410)
• People in virtual communities exchange
  pleasantries and argue, engage in intellectual
  discourse, conduct, exchange knowledge, share
  emotional support, make plans, brainstorm,
  gossip, feud, fall in love, find friends and
  loose them, play games, flirt, create a little
  high art and a lot of idle talk. People in
  virtual communities do just about everything
  people do in real life, but we leave our bodies
  behind. (Rheingold, 19933)

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Research Objects

• Three levels
• Communities in Sweden and Scotland
• Computer-Supported Community Networks
• Local Residents

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Access

• Availability - Connection at Home for everybody
• Cost - as cheap as possible
• Ease of Use - Set Top Boxes

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Research Aims

• Who is the user and who is left out?
• Is participation enhanced?
• Are contacts and support increased?

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Research Methods

• Methods combination of quantitative and
  qualitative survey, interviews and observation
• Questionnaire Swedish version in field English
  (Scottish) translation to follow
• Questions looking at participation, support,
  identity, experience with CIT

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Importance of the Study

• Expansion of CIT emergence of the Information
  Society
• Threats and Opportunities re Social Cohesion new
  forms of Exclusion or Inclusion
• How general are the effects Cross-Cultural study
  is necessary