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Development of a structural approach to the study of computer-mediated communication via online discussion boards
Descriptive
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Text
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Title
Development of a structural approach to the study of computer-mediated communication via online discussion boards
Identifier
ETD_2377
Identifier
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http://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.2/rucore10001600001.ETD.000052103
Language
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eng
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theses
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Topic
Communication, Information and Library Studies
Subject
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(authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Telematics
Subject
(ID = SBJ-3);
(authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Electronic discussion groups
Abstract
To address the research question, "How can the processes of computer-mediated communication be analyzed, described and understood through a natural history, microanalytic, structural approach?" a new analytical instrument that systematically examines the structural properties of CMC via asynchronous online discussion boards is presented. In this approach, the sequence of participant activity within discussion board threads, and the references that allow inferences about who or what a specific message points back to, are mapped in varying ways.
In this method, posts, or messages submitted at one time, are understood as meaningful acts that serve as building blocks of the communicative structure within a discussion board thread, or post set. Posts are mapped according to their order of occurrence in order to learn more about how posting activity occurs within a post set. Posts are also linked to one another by reference cues, or highly reliable indicators of whom or what they are addressing. Two posts linked by a reference cue are referred to as a post pair, and post pairs are grouped into chains based on posts they share in common. This allows for the creation of new maps that represent a more meaningful account of participation, highlighting features of referencing activity in a post set. Several types of visualizations are presented, allowing for the observation and comparison of non-obvious features of communication in post sets.
The developed method is demonstrated and tested through the analysis of data from discussion boards in two distinct research settings: a college course website, and a fan site for the television series Lost. Features of posting activity and referencing activity are compared between and within these two data sets. Posting approaches are identified by observing individual differences in participation within and across post sets.
The method was found to successfully capture participation in the observed post sets. A majority of posts were involved in referencing activity, which was found to be indicative of interaction. The features of, and constitutive possibilities for, communication in the observed research settings are described and outlined. Suggestions for future research are made based on the discoveries of the present analysis.
In this method, posts, or messages submitted at one time, are understood as meaningful acts that serve as building blocks of the communicative structure within a discussion board thread, or post set. Posts are mapped according to their order of occurrence in order to learn more about how posting activity occurs within a post set. Posts are also linked to one another by reference cues, or highly reliable indicators of whom or what they are addressing. Two posts linked by a reference cue are referred to as a post pair, and post pairs are grouped into chains based on posts they share in common. This allows for the creation of new maps that represent a more meaningful account of participation, highlighting features of referencing activity in a post set. Several types of visualizations are presented, allowing for the observation and comparison of non-obvious features of communication in post sets.
The developed method is demonstrated and tested through the analysis of data from discussion boards in two distinct research settings: a college course website, and a fan site for the television series Lost. Features of posting activity and referencing activity are compared between and within these two data sets. Posting approaches are identified by observing individual differences in participation within and across post sets.
The method was found to successfully capture participation in the observed post sets. A majority of posts were involved in referencing activity, which was found to be indicative of interaction. The features of, and constitutive possibilities for, communication in the observed research settings are described and outlined. Suggestions for future research are made based on the discoveries of the present analysis.
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electronic resource
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xiii, 222 p. : ill.
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TableOfContents
test
Note
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Ph.D.
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Includes bibliographical references (p. 213-221)
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by Corinne M. Dalelio
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Dalelio
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Corinne
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1979-
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Corinne Dalelio
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Mokros
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Hartmut
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chair
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Hartmut B. Mokros
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Aakhus
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Mark
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Mark Aakhus
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Katz
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James
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James Katz
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Kubey
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Robert
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Robert Kubey
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Cockett
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Lynn
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Lynn Cockett
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Rutgers University
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Graduate School - New Brunswick
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2010
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2010
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xx
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Rutgers University Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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Graduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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doi:10.7282/T34B31H2
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ETD doctoral
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The author owns the copyright to this work.
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Copyright protected
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Open
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Dalelio
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Corinne
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2010-01-04 10:07:20
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I hereby grant to the Rutgers University Libraries and to my school the non-exclusive right to archive, reproduce and distribute my thesis or dissertation, in whole or in part, and/or my abstract, in whole or in part, in and from an electronic format, subject to the release date subsequently stipulated in this submittal form and approved by my school. I represent and stipulate that the thesis or dissertation and its abstract are my original work, that they do not infringe or violate any rights of others, and that I make these grants as the sole owner of the rights to my thesis or dissertation and its abstract. I represent that I have obtained written permissions, when necessary, from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis or dissertation and will supply copies of such upon request by my school. I acknowledge that RU ETD and my school will not distribute my thesis or dissertation or its abstract if, in their reasonable judgment, they believe all such rights have not been secured. I acknowledge that I retain ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use all or part of this thesis or dissertation in future works, such as articles or books.
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Corinne Dalelio
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Rutgers University. Graduate School - New Brunswick
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I hereby grant to the Rutgers University Libraries and to my school the non-exclusive right to archive, reproduce and distribute my thesis or dissertation, in whole or in part, and/or my abstract, in whole or in part, in and from an electronic format, subject to the release date subsequently stipulated in this submittal form and approved by my school. I represent and stipulate that the thesis or dissertation and its abstract are my original work, that they do not infringe or violate any rights of others, and that I make these grants as the sole owner of the rights to my thesis or dissertation and its abstract. I represent that I have obtained written permissions, when necessary, from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis or dissertation and will supply copies of such upon request by my school. I acknowledge that RU ETD and my school will not distribute my thesis or dissertation or its abstract if, in their reasonable judgment, they believe all such rights have not been secured. I acknowledge that I retain ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use all or part of this thesis or dissertation in future works, such as articles or books.
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730 days
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