Title :
The meaning of an online health community in the lives of its members: roles, relationships and group dynamics
Author :
Maloney-Krichmar, Diane ; Preece, Jenny
Author_Institution :
Language, Literacy & Culture Doctoral Program, Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
Abstract :
This research is concerned with understanding the role a long established and thriving health bulletin board plays in the lives of its members; the impact of usability and sociability issues on group process, and the membership roles, patterns of social interaction, and group dynamics exhibited in the community. An ethnographic research approach is taken in this study in combination with social network analysis, and Interaction Process Analysis. The paper describes the rational for this research approach and some preliminary findings. It appears that community members have created a mental model of the groups´ dynamics that serves as the basis for their attraction and commitment to the community
Keywords :
Internet; electronic mail; health care; human factors; Interaction Process Analysis; ethnographic research approach; group process; membership roles; online health community; sociability issues; social interaction; social network analysis; usability; Cognitive science; Diseases; Information systems; Injuries; Internet; Knee; Medical conditions; Medical services; Social network services; Usability;
Conference_Titel :
Technology and Society, 2002. (ISTAS'02). 2002 International Symposium on
Conference_Location :
Raleigh, NC
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-7284-0
DOI :
10.1109/ISTAS.2002.1013791
