Thursday, January 05, 2006
A Typology of Information Exchange Within Online Communities
I recently found online the article "Information exchange in virtual communities: a typology" by Gary Burnett, which appears in the July 2000 issue of Information Research. For Burnett, almost all online communities "rely upon the exchange of texts between writers and readers in an ongoing discursive activity" (p. 2). Consequently, online communities "function as social spaces supporting textual 'conversations' through which participants can find both socio-emotional support and an active exchange of information" (pp. 2, 3). Burnett's typology considers the types of information exchange/behavior that occur in online communities.
Burnett divides information behaviors within online communities into two broad types: 1) Non-interactive behaviors, and 2) Interactive behaviors. The classic example of a non-interactive behavior is "'lurking,'" when someone reads messages written by others, but does not write, and, consequently, is among the "largely invisible." [1] Interactive behaviors, on the other hand, involve writing messages as well as reading others' messages. Burnett divides interactive behaviors into two essential types: A) Hostile interactive behaviors, and B) Collaborative or positive interactive behaviors. Hostile interactive behaviors are "a sort of verbal violence" that can involve either a few participants or an entire community. Burnett identifies four types of hostile interactive behaviors. First, and the most common form of hostile interactive behavior, is "flaming," which is "simply online ad-hominem argumentation, aiming neither for logic nor for persuasion, but purely and bluntly at insult" (p. 14).[2] Second, is "trolling," which is "deliberately posting a message for the purpose of eliciting an intemperate response" (p. 15).[3] The third form of hostile interactive behavior is spamming, sending unsolicited and unwanted emails and messages; and fourth, is "cyber-rape" or virtual rape, which is the most violent exchange of messages. The most well-known example of cyber-rape occured in Lambda Moo, and is discussed in a November post of this blog.
Burnett divides Collaborative Interactive behaviors into two primary categories: 1) behaviors "not specifically oriented toward information" and 2) behaviors "directly related to either information seeking or to providing information to other community members" (p. 18). Behaviors that ARE NOT specifically oriented toward information are divided into three types: A) Neutral behaviors (pleasantries and gossip), B) Humorous behaviors (language games and other types of play), and C) Empathetic behaviors (emotional support). Behaviors that ARE specifically oriented toward information include 3 types: 1) Announcements; 2) Queries or Specific Requests for Information, with queries i) made by other community members, ii) taken outside the community, or iii) presented directly to the community; and 3) Directed Group Projects.
1. Although invisible to the community, lurkers are engaged in "significant information-gathering activities" (p. 13).
2. For more on flaming, see Andrew Heenan's Guide to Flaming and wikipedia's definition of the term.
3. For more on trolling, see wikipedia's definition and Urban75's discussion of the term.
Burnett divides information behaviors within online communities into two broad types: 1) Non-interactive behaviors, and 2) Interactive behaviors. The classic example of a non-interactive behavior is "'lurking,'" when someone reads messages written by others, but does not write, and, consequently, is among the "largely invisible." [1] Interactive behaviors, on the other hand, involve writing messages as well as reading others' messages. Burnett divides interactive behaviors into two essential types: A) Hostile interactive behaviors, and B) Collaborative or positive interactive behaviors. Hostile interactive behaviors are "a sort of verbal violence" that can involve either a few participants or an entire community. Burnett identifies four types of hostile interactive behaviors. First, and the most common form of hostile interactive behavior, is "flaming," which is "simply online ad-hominem argumentation, aiming neither for logic nor for persuasion, but purely and bluntly at insult" (p. 14).[2] Second, is "trolling," which is "deliberately posting a message for the purpose of eliciting an intemperate response" (p. 15).[3] The third form of hostile interactive behavior is spamming, sending unsolicited and unwanted emails and messages; and fourth, is "cyber-rape" or virtual rape, which is the most violent exchange of messages. The most well-known example of cyber-rape occured in Lambda Moo, and is discussed in a November post of this blog.
Burnett divides Collaborative Interactive behaviors into two primary categories: 1) behaviors "not specifically oriented toward information" and 2) behaviors "directly related to either information seeking or to providing information to other community members" (p. 18). Behaviors that ARE NOT specifically oriented toward information are divided into three types: A) Neutral behaviors (pleasantries and gossip), B) Humorous behaviors (language games and other types of play), and C) Empathetic behaviors (emotional support). Behaviors that ARE specifically oriented toward information include 3 types: 1) Announcements; 2) Queries or Specific Requests for Information, with queries i) made by other community members, ii) taken outside the community, or iii) presented directly to the community; and 3) Directed Group Projects.
1. Although invisible to the community, lurkers are engaged in "significant information-gathering activities" (p. 13).
2. For more on flaming, see Andrew Heenan's Guide to Flaming and wikipedia's definition of the term.
3. For more on trolling, see wikipedia's definition and Urban75's discussion of the term.
