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

fYear

2002

fDate

2002

Firstpage

20

Lastpage

27

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;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Technology and Society, 2002. (ISTAS'02). 2002 International Symposium on

Conference_Location

Raleigh, NC

Print_ISBN

0-7803-7284-0

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ISTAS.2002.1013791

Filename

1013791