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A Study of Internet Based Community Interactions Virtual Online Communities: A Study of Internet Based Community Interactions A dissertation presented to the faculty of the Scripps College of Communication of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Adrian M. Budiman August 2008 This dissertation titled Virtual Communities Online: A Study of Internet Based Community Interactions by ADRIAN M. BUDIMAN has been approved for the School of Media Arts and Studies and the Scripps College of Communication by Drew McDaniel Professor of Telecommunications Gregory J. Shepherd Dean, Scripps College of Communication ii Abstract BUDIMAN, ADRIAN M., Ph.D., August 2008, Mass Communication Virtual Online Communities: A Study of Internet Based Community Interactions (167 pp.) Director of Dissertation: Drew McDaniel The aim of this research was to better understand virtual online communities (VOCs), that is, communities that are formed and maintained through the Internet. This research was guided by four research questions: What do participants in VOCs actually seek? How does a participant critically evaluate information produced in VOCs? What differences do VOC members perceive between their online community experiences compared to their experiences in real-life face-to-face communities? In what ways might a VOC shape its members’ views toward political and social change? The methodology employed was participant observation of 20 informants within their online and offline realms plus in-depth interviews with each informant. Interviews and observations were conducted from 2005 – 2007. This research identified two different types of VOCs: dependent and self- contained VOCs. Dependent VOCs act as extensions to already existent face-to-face communities while self-sustained VOCs are communities where relationships between members are formed, developed, and nurtured purely through virtual encounters on the Internet based on shared interests. Four functions were identified in this study: information exchange, social support exchange, friendship, recreation. Information exchange is a function where the VOC main purpose was to provide information for iii members. Social support refers to the degree to which a person’s basic social needs are gratified through interaction with others. Friendship are formed within the VOC not only for social support, but also provide deeper, more meaningful relationships. Recreation within a VOC occurs when the community’s main purpose is purely entertainment. This study also identified six motivations: accessibility/convenience, escapism, alternate identities, social recognition, voyeurism, written communication as a medium. Three issues in VOCs also emerged in this study: trust, evaluation of online material, and marginalized communities. VOCs exist in a public space and members have a certain degree of anonymity so that trust and ability to evaluate online material was found as a significant issue. Members were hesitant to reveal their true identity unless a bond had been established first. This produced problems in evaluation of content. The issue of marginalized communities was also found where gay members who were ostracized by the general public utilized the VOC as a means for communications. Approved: _____________________________________________________________ Drew McDaniel Professor of Telecommunications iv Dedicated to Tiwi, Aditya, Amira, my partners in life; and my parents, Arief and Leila, my source of inspiration. v Acknowledgements This dissertation has been the result of the help and support of many individuals. To my committee members, I thank each and every one of you for your time, guidance, and commitment to help me reach my education goal. I would like convey my deepest gratitude to my dissertation chair, Dr. Drew McDaniel who has been my mentor and partner in research during my tenure as a doctoral student at Ohio University. Dr. McDaniel’s professional guidance has helped me complete my academic journey and will continue to be remembered in my future endeavors as a scholar. On the same level, I would like to sincerely thank Dr. Elizabeth Collins for her generous support during my studies at Ohio University. It was because of Dr. Collins, I changed the direction of my life and decided to pursue a post-graduate degree in the United States. This became one of the best decisions in my life that I will continue to treasure. In addition, Dr. Collins has helped me during my most challenging moments as a graduate student and as an Indonesian student with a family in a foreign land. Her help and support rises above and beyond of becoming a committee member and will never be forgotten. I would also like to thank Dr. Don Flournoy and Dr. Robert Stewart for both their roles as a committee member. Dr. Flournoy and Dr. Stewart have both provided me with important and valuable insights on my research based on their experience and in-depth knowledge of their field. For all my Indonesian friends in Athens, thank you for all of your help and support during my stay. You have helped in making Athens a “home” for us. Special thanks go to all my informants in this study, who provided me with valuable information vi to better comprehend the new world of the Internet. And thank you for everybody who have been involved directly or indirectly during my journey as a doctoral student and contributed toward the completion of my degree. There are too many too mention here, but I will always remember you. Finally I would like to convey my heartfelt gratitude to my family. To Nurul Pratiwi (Tiwi), Aditya Adrianputra and Amira Savitri, I would have never been able to complete my studies without your unconditional love, understanding, support, and sacrifice. I owe you everything. To my parents: Arief Budiman and Leila Budiman, thank you for your never-ending support, encouragement, and inspiration. To my beloved family, I dedicate this dissertation. vii Table of Contents Page Abstract …………………………………………………………………………………. iii Dedication …………………………………………………………………………….…. v Acknowledgements …………………………………………………………………….. vi List of Tables …….……….………………...……………………….………………….. xi List of Figures …………….………………………………………….……………….... xii Chapter 1: Introduction ……………………………………………………….................. 1 Statement of Problem …………………………………………………………..... 4 The Researcher …………………………………………………………………... 6 A Brief History of Virtual Online Communities ………………….………...….. 14 The Early years (1960 – 1989) …………………………………………. 15 The Birth of the Internet (1990 – 1996) ………………………...……… 17 Virtual Online Communities (1997 – present) ………………………..... 18 Chapter 2: Literature Review ………………………………………………………...…. 27 Virtual Communities in Perspective …………………………………....…...….. 27 The VOC: A New Kind of Virtual Community …………………………..……. 30 Anonymity and Accountability within the VOC ………………………..……… 35 Comparing the VOC with the Physical Community …………………..……….. 38 VOCs and Political and Social Change ………………………………..……….. 41 Research Questions ………………………………………………….…………. 44 Chapter 3: Methodological Overview ……………………………………..…………… 45 Rationale for Qualitative Research ……………………………….……………. 45 Informant Selection ……………………………………...………..……………. 47 Selective Recruitment …………………………………….……………. 48 Voluntary Recruitment …………………………………………………. 48 Participant Observation ………………………………………………………… 50 Frequency of Logins ………………………………………………...…. 51 Communication with Other Members …………………….…………… 51 Responses from Other Members …………………………..…....……… 52 Reputation ………………………………………………..…………….. 52 Trust …………………………………………………….……………… 52 Emotion ………………………………………………………………… 52 In-Depth Interviews ..…………………………………………….…………….. 52 Face to Face Interviews ………………………………….…………….. 53 Online Interviews ……………………………………….……………… 54 Classification of VOCs ………………………………………………………… 54 Usenet ………………………………………………………………….. 54 Internet Forums ………………………………………………………… 55 viii Community Gaming / MMORPG ……………………………………… 55 Social Networking Sites ……………………………....………………... 56 Informants …………...………….……………………………………………… 57 The Digital Photographer …………………………….………………… 58 The eBay Power Seller …………………………………………….….... 60 Online Dater …………………..…………………………………….….. 61 The Deaf Artist ………………………………………………………… 62 The Gay Student …………………………………….…………………. 63 Volunteer Tech Support …………………………….………………….. 63 Soap Opera Site Administrator ………………………………………… 65 Chinese Moderator ……………………………….…………………….. 66 Online Gamers …………………………………………………………. 68 Chapter 4: Research Findings ………………………………………………………..… 70 Dependent and Self-Sustained VOCs …………………..……………………… 72 Dependent VOCs ………………………………………………………. 72 Self-Sustained VOCs …………………....……………………………... 74 Functions of VOCs ………………………………………………………..…… 77 Information Exchange ………………………………………………..… 77 Social Support Exchange …….…..…………………………………..… 78 Friendship ………………………………..…………………………..… 79 Recreation …………………..………………………………………..… 80 Motivations of VOC Members …….…..……………………………….…..….. 81 Accessibility ………...………….…….………………………………… 82 Escapism …………………….…….…………………………………… 85 Alternate Identities …….……………………………………….………. 86 Social Recognition ……….…………………………………….………. 92 Voyeurism ……………………………………………………….……... 93 Written Communication as a Medium ………………….…..……..…… 94 Summary ……………………………………………………………….. 96 Issues in Virtual Online Communities ………………………….……………… 97 Trust …………………………………………………………..……..…. 97 Evaluation of Online Material ………………...……..……………...…. 99 Quality of Information ………………………………...…..….. 101 Technical Indicators ………………………………….........….. 102 Visual Indicators ……………………………………………… 103 Reputation ………………………………………….…………. 106 Marginalized
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