12 Variables for Understanding Online Communities by Andrea Baker and Bob Watson This article is an attempt to discuss some of the qualities that define virtual communities. It is a work in process, an exploration. The twelve variables we've selected are most likely not all that exist, just the ones we find most important in our thinking right now. These variables struck us as important ways in which communities are differentiated despite the type of software chosen to carry a given community. Each author has several years of experience participating in online communities and also facilitating and managing them. Researchers may take a community or a number of communities and apply these variables in order to analyze them. Each qualitative variable represents a continuum and can be seen to have a "high" and a "low" end. We acknowledge that others could develop a numerical scale for each variable, noting the community's place along the continuum of each of the twelve dimensions. Such a quantitative measurement could possibly be used to reduce subjectivity in comparing communities. Software Choices Since online communities only exist through the software that is chosen, it is useful to begin with a few brief comments on what is generally available. Various types of software have their partisans, but a choice has to be made that will influence how well a community functions for its particular use. The variables apply to all, we think, but the software chosen to launch a community has a strong influence on what will ultimately develop. The following thoughts seem generally true in our experience. Threaded boards. Threaded boards work well for smallish communities or for those with specifiable, generally technical, interests. The reason is that natural drift spreads a general topic, rather like an organization chart with 20 people reporting upwards, with 20 additional reporting to each of the twenty … the depth is only three posts, but the resulting width is 400. This...
Before
you begin this lab please read the attached file "12 variables
of Online Communties". You will see the file when you click the link
below and then scroll down. Follow and complete the steps below:
1)
Research and explain the meaning of the terms Asynchronous and Synchronous
as they pertain to Online Communties.
2)
Create a list of the different formats/types of Online Communties you
are aware of (i.e. chatrooms, etc.) and put an "S" next to it if
you believe it is Synchronous and an "AS" if Asynchrounous (some
might have both).
3)
Search for and identify a chatroom you might be interested in. Some of
you will know of one immediately, others may have to look around using free
resources such as an YAHOO, Google, etc. If needed, I encourage you
to create "dummy accounts" to access the chatroom, so that you are
not divulging personal identity/info. Visit the chatroom of your
choice for a minimum of 20minutes. Log the name of the
room, time entered, and time you left. Document your experience in that
chatroom and explain how the 12 variables you just read about do pertain
or do not pertain to it and your experience.
Some simple options as a last resort
4)
Search for and identify a Discussion Board/Forum you might be
interested in. Some of you will know of one immediately others may have
to look around. Those that wish to create "dummy accounts"
to access their Discussion Board are welcome to do so. Visit your Board
and spend some time reading the threads and evaluating the
overall discussion, layout, etc. Log the name of the
Board. Document your experience and explain how the 12 variables you
just read about pertain or do not to it.
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