Online Flashcards
The self in online communication
McKenna (2009): people more willing to display aspects of ‘true (ideal) self’ online
Empowers marginalised individuals (joining special communities when stigmatised)
Social factors influencing CMC
Reduced social cues
Hancock et al (2008): easier to lie online
Emoticons to compensate (Wolf, 2000)
Anonymity: encourages disinhibition since consequences are less feared
Cyberpsychology
Dominated by experiments.
Emerging in US and proposed BPS.
Preoccupation with negative aspects of internet.
Problems with cyberpsychology
Assumption of online/offline divide
Time spent on Internet as major DV in research
Assumption that online activity the same as offline
Preoccupation with accuracy of information
Microanalysis of online data
Focus on what people actually do online and how they do it
Study of online communities
Application of discourse and conversation analysis
Focus on ‘interactional dynamics’ of online communication
Online discussion forums
Discussion threads don’t follow rules
Can last for years
Massively polylogal (no limit to number of discussants)
Doubly articulated for an unseen audience
Communication impoverished by no face to face cues.
The opening post (OP) and features of forums
Issue of ‘addressivity’
Turn design: what sort of response does it invite?
Structures thematic content of thread
Permanently available for reference
Time stamps on posts
Analysing long threads
Discussion forums and social identity
Much discussion around group/community membership
Online fandom: are you a ‘true fan’?
Mental health: are you diagnosed?
Issue of authenticity
Ana/Mia: Giles (2006)
Boundary policing
Normals (no ED)
Dieters (lose weight no ED)
Wannabes (fakers)
Haters (hostile normals)
Mia as dirty and easy.
Yoyo (switching identities)
EDNOS as a safe position.
Forums try to weed out outgroups
