The article builds on the presupposition that the idea of hypertext as a specific mode of information organization in a nonsequential, decentralized system of interconnected text pieces, on which the ...technology of the World Wide Web (WWW) was developed, implies noble social changes in terms of democratization, stimulation of cooperation, advancement of epistemological processes, & effective rationalization of human knowledge. Assuming the positive social impacts of hypertext, the relevant research problem to analyze is the ability of the WWW to retain its hypertextual nature. The article focuses on a special, very important factor in this context -- authors of Web sites. Properties of the WWW are directly dependent on its building blocks, Web sites, yet their content is determined solely by the authors, who are largely unconstrained in their actions. The WWW retains the ideas of hypertext only if authors conform to certain latent rules, which are defined in the framework of the so-called ethics of hypertext. A theoretical insight is offered into the mechanism of social construction of action, which complies with the rules of the ethics of hypertext. Following the methodological steps of conceptualization & operationalization, an empirical evaluation of the problem is presented on a sample of Slovenian Web site authors. The methodological framework offers a theoretical explanatory model of hypertextual action as an action that reflects the ethics of hypertext & includes the following concepts: hypertextuality of action, perception of the norm of hypertextual action, perception of expert legitimization, belief in positive impact of hypertext, & anonymity of action. Indicators were developed on definitions of concepts. Subsequently, data were collected Apr-June 2002 by means of a Web survey. A complex procedure was used to recruit the respondents & approximately 1,000 valid units, individual authors of Web sites, were obtained for further analysis. LISREL program was used to assess & verify the explanatory model of hypertextual action, whereby a surprisingly adequate model fit could be achieved. Thus the mechanism of social construction of hypertextual action seems to be valid. Although the ethics of hypertext is only latently present, it obviously has a strong social basis, since individual authors relatively often act in accordance with it. It is true that individuals use their Web sites to reach their own goals, but they simultaneously show some concern for retaining the hypertext in the WWW. 6 Tables, 2 Figures, 49 References. Adapted from the source document.
The spiral of silence theory in public opinion research is one of the most intriguing innovations in recent history of the field, reconceptualizing the notion of public opinion processes as complex ...phenomena in which a large number of social actors inter-relate; even more important is the way in which spiral of silence theory reassesses the emergence of collective force from individual actions. Offering an overview of key concepts in spiral of silence theory, the role of the public, the social setting, & the individual's fear of isolation are stressed. Some possible paths for future research are also suggested. 37 References. Adapted from the source document.
Družbena kompleksnost in dinamičnost spletnih skupnosti ne omogoča nji- hove enoznačne družboslovne opredelitve, zaradi česar so spletne skupnosti deležne pluralnih opredelitev in pojmovanj. ...Namen prispevka pri tem ni tvorjenje najbolj veljavne opredelitve pojma, temveč oblikovanje tipologije spletnih skupnosti. na pod- lagi sinteze ključnih opredelitev pojma spletna skupnost in kritičnega ovrednotenja že obstoječih tipologij prispevek vzpostavi novo tipologijo spletnih skupnosti in predstavi njihove temeljne značilnosti. Izoblikovana tipologija temelji na treh spremenljivkah: (1) prevladujoča narava odnosa v spletni skupnosti, (2) multifunkcionalnost spletne skupnosti in (3) tipi spletnih skupnosti. Tipologija tako predstavlja dvanajst idealnih tipov spletnih skupnosti, ki lahko služijo kot hevristično orodje nadaljnjemu analizira- nju, raziskovanju, teoretiziranju in pridobivanju novih spoznanj o spletnih skupnostih.
The social complexity and dynamics of online communities do not allow for them to be unambiguously defined which is why the concept attracts plural definitions and conceptualisations. The purpose of ...this paper is not to generate the most valid definition of the concept but to form a typology of online communities. Based on a synthesis of key definitions of the concept of online community and a critical evaluation of existing typologies, the paper proposes a new typology of online communities and presents their fundamental characteristics. The presented typology is based on three variables: (1) the prevailing relationship orientation of the online community; (2) the multi-functionality of the online community; and (3) types of online communities. The typology identifies 12 ideal types of online communities which can serve as a heuristic tool for further analyses, research, theorisations and the accumulation of new knowledge about such communities.
The paper presents a chronological & conceptual context for the recent change in the spiral of silence theory, developed since the 1970s by Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann & her critics. A recently ...introduced novelty of this theory is the concept of opinion leaders that was first elaborated by Paul Lazarsfeld in his mid-20th-century studies of voting behavior in America. Noelle-Neumann now integrates this concept with the original composition of her spiral of silence theory. The question, however, is to what extent this renewed theory remains consistent with its original outlook. The authors' reply here is negative. 13 References. Adapted from the source document.
This paper deals with the social structures and processes that enable Internet-based group communication spaces to develop from social aggregates to a social form also known as an online community. ...The paper focuses on three anchors of online communities – social cohesion, trust and participation – which underlie community reproduction and sustainability and, at the same time, are sources of knowledge, social relationships and identification for their members. The impact of regulation and self-presentation processes on three anchoring elements in online communities is considered. Drawing on the conceptual discussion, an explanatory model is proposed that establishes the dependency of the anchoring elements on administrator decisions and the availability of regulation and self-presentation processes. The paper presents an exhaustive operationalisation of factors at the level of community characteristics that stem from administrative decisions and result from social interactional dynamics within an online community. The results of multiple regression analyses carried out on a sample of 61 Slovenian web forums suggest that social cohesion, trust and participation in online communities are mostly influenced by social structures that emerge from group interactional dynamics and to a lesser extent by administrative decisions, which may also give rise to undesired latent consequences.
The article builds on the presupposition that the idea of hypertext as a specific mode of information organization in a nonsequential, decentralized system of interconnected text pieces, on which the ...technology of the World Wide Web (WWW) was developed, implies noble social changes in terms of democratization, stimulation of cooperation, advancement of epistemological processes and effective rationalization of human knowledge. Assuming the positive social impacts of hypertext the relevant research problem to analyze is the possibility of the WWW to retain hypertextual nature. The article focuses on a special, and a very important factor in this context – authors of web sites. Properties of the WWW are directly dependent upon its building blocks, web sites, yet their content is determined solely by the authors, who are largely unconstrained in their actions. The WWW retains the ideas of hypertext only if authors conform to certain latent rules, which are defined in the framework of the so-called ethics of hypertext. A theoretical insight is offered into the mechanism of social construction of action, which complies with the rules of the ethics of hypertext. Following the methodological steps of conceptualization and operationalisation, an empirical evaluation of the problem is presented on a sample of Slovenian web site authors. The methodological framework offers a theoretical explanatory model of hypertextual action as an action that reflects the ethics of hypertext and includes the following concepts: hypertextuality of action, perception of the norm of hypertextual action, perception of expert legitimization, belief in positive impact of hypertext and anonymity of action. Indicators were developed upon definitions of concepts. Subsequently, data was collected in the period from April to June 2002, by means of a web survey. A complex procedure was used to recruit the respondents and approximately 1000 valid units, individual authors of web sites, were obtained for further analysis. LISREL program was used to assess and verify the explanatory model of hypertextual action, whereby a surprisingly adequate model fit could be achieved. Thus the mechanism of social construction of hypertextual action seems to be valid. Although the ethics of hypertext is only latently present, it obviously has a strong social basis, since individual authors relatively often act in accordance with it. It is true that individuals use their web sites to reach their own goals, but they simultaneously show some concern for retaining the hypertext in the WWW.
Prihod teorije spirale molka na prizorišče razprav o javnem mnenju je sprožil obsežen val problematizacij, rekonceptualizacij, razširitev in empiričnih replikacij ter preverjanj predlogov teorije o ...mikronivojskih procesih javnega izražanja mnenja. Le v zanemarljivi meri pa je teorija spirale molka spodbudila ukvarjanje z javnomnenjskim procesom kot kompleksnim pojavom, ki vključuje številne raznolike družbene akterje, čeprav je ravno razumevanje organiziranja individualnih delovanj v kolektivno silo ena temeljnih vrlin teorije. V članku so analizirane rekonceptualizacije in operacionalizacije ključnih komponent teorije spirale molka, med drugim je poudarek na operacionalizaciji javnega izražanja mnenja, vlogi družbenega okolja v procesih izražanja mnenja, konceptualizaciji strahu pred izolacijo in na predmetu javne razprave. Sočasno so izpostavljeni nekateri trajni konceptualni in empirični problemi, ki jih tradicija teorije spirale molka ne problematizira ali pa jih ne uspe rešiti. Prikazane so tudi razširitve teorije spirale molka, ki po eni strani povečujejo pojasnjevalno moč v procesu izražanja mnenja, po drugi strani pa prihajajo v navzkriž z originalno idejo spirale molka.
Prispevek postavlja v kronološki in konceptualni kontekst zadnje spremembe v teoriji spirale molka, ki jo od 70. let 20. stoletja razvijajo Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann in njeni kritiki. Novost v tej ...teoriji, ki jo je nedavno predstavila njena avtorica, zadeva pojem mnenjskih voditeljev in način, kako ga je vključila v svojo osnovno teoretsko kompozicijo. Prvi je na ta pojem opozoril že Paul Lazarsfeld, ko je proučeval volilno vedenje v ZDA, v zadnjem času pa ga je reaktualizirala Noelle-Neumannova s svojo teorijo javnega mnenja kot družbenega nadzora. Vprašanje, ki se postavlja, je, v kolikšni meri prenovljena podoba spirale molka ostaja konsistentna svoji osnovni kompoziciji. Odgovor avtorjev prispevka je odklonilen.
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