Online Communities Research Articles

Mathematics teachers’ intention to participate in an online community: an investigation using the Theory of Planned Behaviour

AbstractThis study employs the Theory of Planned Behaviour to investigate mathematics teachers’ beliefs regarding their intention to collaborate regularly in an online community. The central premise is that initiating such a community necessitates an implementation strategy informed by a better understanding of underlying beliefs influencing teachers’ participation intention. Accordingly, this research examines the intention of Australian mathematics teachers (N = 430) to engage in an online community proposed by their peak state-based professional association. Central to this study, participants’ intentions to engage in regular collaboration predominantly ranged from ‘somewhat disagree’ to ‘agree’, with the average rating approaching ‘somewhat agree’, highlighting the need for targeted strategies to increase this intention. A prominent finding was that participants’ attitudes towards regular collaboration were the strongest predictor of their intention to participate. While participants felt somewhat in control of their collaboration behaviour, this perception did not directly influence their intention; instead, it mediated the influence of subjective approval from others and personal attitudes on their intention. Demographic factors and past online community experiences had far less impact on predicting intentions than the Theory of Planned Behaviour beliefs. Notably, the subjective norm related to perceived approval from others was rated the highest, whereas the norm related to others’ actual behaviour received the lowest ratings, reflecting a significant divergence in the perception of social approval versus actual behaviour. These findings culminate in implications for interventions and extend the application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour, enhancing knowledge about factors impacting teachers’ engagement in online communities.

Enabling high-performance cloud computing for the Community Multiscale Air Quality Model (CMAQ) version 5.3.3: performance evaluation and benefits for the user community.

The Community Multiscale Air Quality Model (CMAQ) is a local- to hemispheric-scale numerical air quality modeling system developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and supported by the Community Modeling and Analysis System (CMAS) center. CMAQ is used for regulatory purposes by the USEPA program offices and state and local air agencies and is also widely used by the broader global research community to simulate and understand complex air quality processes and for computational environmental fate and transport and climate and health impact studies. Leveraging state-of-the-science cloud computing resources for high-performance computing (HPC) applications, CMAQ is now available as a fully tested, publicly available technology stack (HPC cluster and software stack) for two major cloud service providers (CSPs). Specifically, CMAQ configurations and supporting materials have been developed for use on their HPC clusters, including extensive online documentation, tutorials and guidelines to scale and optimize air quality simulations using their services. These resources allow modelers to rapidly bring together CMAQ, cloud-hosted datasets, and visualization and evaluation tools on ephemeral clusters that can be deployed quickly and reliably worldwide. Described here are considerations in CMAQ version 5.3.3 cloud use and the supported resources for each CSP, presented through a benchmark application suite that was developed as an example of a typical simulation for testing and verifying components of the modeling system. The outcomes of this effort are to provide findings from performing CMAQ simulations on the cloud using popular vendor-provided resources, to enable the user community to adapt this for their own needs, and to identify specific areas of potential optimization with respect to storage and compute architectures.

Exploring online advocacy mechanisms through self-presentation: a comparative analysis between e-commerce website customers

PurposeUnderpinning social identity theory (SIT) and service-dominant logic (SDL), the current paper seeks to explore the effect of self-presentation on online brand advocacy (OBA). Furthermore, this paper investigates the mediating role of hedonic value and the moderating role of customer interaction with e-commerce websites (i.e. Amazon, Walmart and eBay).Design/methodology/approachData were collected from customers of three e-commerce platforms (i.e. Walmart, Amazon and eBay) using a structured questionnaire – multi-group analysis applied on SmartPLS 4.4.FindingsSelf-presentation has a positive role in increasing hedonic value and its impact on OBA. The moderating effect of customer interaction on these relationships is also investigated and found to be significant.Social implicationsOur findings underscore the significance of fostering inclusive online communities and favorable online settings. Existing findings are consistent with overarching objectives of digital empowerment and enhanced online interaction quality. This paper contributes to harmonious and collaborative digital societies by encouraging personalized experiences that foster a sense of belonging among diverse customers.Originality/valueThis paper adds to the existing body of knowledge by comparing customer behavior on three major e-commerce platforms, going beyond the traditional focus on a single platform. Drawing on SIT and SDL, this paper provides a distinct nomological framework for OBA that unifies disparate constructs, filling theoretical gaps in our understanding of online customer behavior.

Promoting Adaptive Apparel on Instagram: The Role of People with Disabilities as Users, Influencers, and Advocates

This study aimed to understand how social media is used as a marketing and promotion tool for fashion brands within the adaptive apparel marketplace and further explores how disability advocates and influencers use social media to promote adaptive apparel. To achieve this goal, the study used a qualitative methodology of semi-structured interviews and a computational methodology of collocation analysis to analyze social media posts from users with hashtags related to adaptive apparel. The result of the study revealed three themes that supported social capital theory, communities of practice, and virtual communities of practice theories – Inclusion, Representation, and Education. Further, the data mining phase provided valuable insights into the significant event and the broader community of people with disabilities. This study showed how fashion brands, disability organizations, advocates, and people with disabilities use social media to market and promote adaptive apparel.

Artistic interventions: Art, community, and media in China and beyond

Artistic interventions in communities have become increasingly prevalent in the context of quality-led urbanization and rural revitalization in China over the past decade. These art practices reflect a narrative of resistance toward the institutionalization, professionalization, and marketization of contemporary art through direct interventions in social reality. Community is the most common site from which public aesthetic action and social activism emerge to increase public awareness and promote community engagement. With the rise of new media technologies, multi-media have gradually been combined in socially engaged art projects, which has blurred the boundaries between concrete materials and virtual media as well as that between physical places and the online community. This article first outlines a literature review on the changing avant-garde spirit in both global and Chinese art history to better understand the concepts of artistic interventions. Second, as a major intervention in this field, the focus on community reflects the interflow of the theoretical search for communicative ethics and community reconstruction movements worldwide. Third, the role of the media in socially engaged art and its future implications are discussed. In the conclusion section, a variety of specific contexts in China and beyond and the various intervention aims and methods of five selected articles are introduced.

Intersections of Genre and Identity in Contraceptive Health Discourses

This study aims to examine online contraception texts as a way to interrogate the intersections of identity, inclusivity, and access in contraception and reproductive health discourses. At the center of this project is the understanding that, while many contraceptive technologies are designed for and marketed towards "women" for the sole use of preventing pregnancy, the actual users of contraception and their purposes for its use are diverse and involve considerations of sexuality, gender identity, socioeconomic status, ability, cultural and religious norms, and access to healthcare. By examining the genre of contraception texts through systematized coding and rhetorical analysis, this study examines how the constitutive genre features of these texts do and do not recognize the diversity of users, with a particular focus on users in the trans community.

Analyzing the consumer journey for hiking of the John Muir Trail

Most research on the consumer journey has focused on product purchases. This research, however, examines the consumer journey for experiences – in this case a long-distance hike. Two studies examine how people become aware of, learn more about, prepare for, evaluate, and reflect on a 200-mile hike on the John Muir Trail in California. The first study interviewed hikers while on the trail. The second study analyzed online discussion groups dedicated to the trail. These studies reveal that the idea of a long-distance hike often arises from a mention by others where people add the idea to a mental “bucket list”. For those with whom the idea resonates, they may quickly decide to hike the trail, though their motivation may not always be clear, and the trip may not occur for quite some time. Getting a permit is frequently a barrier, but online communities often offer advice. Preparation for the hike is typically a high-involvement process that involves purchasing equipment and physical training. The hike itself is a paradox of aesthetic appreciation in the face of physical struggle. Importantly, many hikers later report the journey as an important experience and serve as evangelists for other hikers. The two studies corroborate certain notions about the consumer decision process while calling others into question. For instance, they validate the significance of word-of-mouth recommendations from individuals with similar backgrounds, which plays a pivotal role in raising awareness. Simultaneously, they challenge conventional thinking by demonstrating that the decision-making process is influenced not solely by rational factors but also by emotional elements. Finally, these findings underscore the importance of employing multiple research methods to comprehensively grasp the intricate aspects of the consumer journey, especially the consumption of experiences.

A Study on Linguistic Z-Graph and Its Application in Social Networks

This paper presents a comprehensive study of the linguistic Z-graph, which is a novel framework designed to analyze linguistic structures within social networks. By integrating concepts from graph theory and linguistics, the linguistic Z-graph provides a detailed understanding of language dynamics in online communities. This study highlights the practical applications of linguistic Z-graphs in identifying central nodes within social networks, which are crucial for online businesses in market capture and information dissemination. Traditional methods for identifying central nodes rely on direct connections, but social network connections often exhibit uncertainty. This paper focuses on using fuzzy theory, particularly linguistic Z-graphs, to address this uncertainty, offering more detailed insights compared to fuzzy graphs. Our study introduces a new centrality measure using linguistic Z-graphs, enhancing our understanding of social network structures.

Drivers of Knowledge Sharing in Virtual Brand Communities: Self-Determination Perspective

ABSTRACT The prevalence of virtual brand communities and the knowledge sharing occurring throughout these populations has become a staple of both business and consumer online realities. Expanding work on personal motivations, and guided by self-determination theory, this research explores autonomous and relatedness motivations that drive individual knowledge sharing within online communities. The authors argue that such knowledge sharing can be fostered by many drivers, including self-presentation factors, brand community engagement elements, user attitude toward the brand, user reputation, size of community network, and reciprocity from other community members. Analysis was conducted using data collected longitudinally from 2866 club members of Xiaomi’s online MI User Interface community in China. Results reveal that personal signature, post length, online time, login frequency, brand attitude, reputation, online social network, and reciprocity all positively affect individual knowledge sharing within the virtual brand community, while the use of picture posts may have adverse effects and impact knowledge sharing negatively.

Making sense of a pandemic: reasoning about COVID-19 in the intellectual dark web.

In this study, I examine how users of an online Reddit community, r/IntellectualDarkWeb, forged an anti-establishment collective identity through practices of "heterodox scientific" reasoning. I do so through a discursive analysis of comments and posts made to r/IntellectualDarkWeb during the COVID-19 pandemic. First, I deploy the BERTopic algorithm to cluster my corpus and surface topics pertaining to COVID-19. Second, I engage in a qualitative content analysis of the relevant clusters to understand how discourses about COVID-19 were mobilized by subreddit users. I show that discussions about COVID-19 were polarized along "contrarian" and "anti-contrarian" lines, with significant implications for the subreddit's process of collective identity. Overwhelmingly, contrarian content that expressed skepticism towards vaccines, mistrust towards experts, and cynicism about the medical establishment was affirmed by r/IntellectualDarkWeb users. By contrast, anti-contrarian content that sought to counter anti-vaccine rhetoric, defend expertise, or criticize subreddit users for their contrarianism was penalized. A key factor in this dynamic was Reddit's scoring mechanism, which empowered users to publicly upvote contrarian affirming content while simultaneously downvoting anti-contrarian content. As users participated in sense making about COVID-19, they deployed Reddit's scoring mechanism to reinforce a contrarian collective identity oriented around a practice of heterodox science. My research shows the continued relevance of the concept of collective identity in the digital age and its utility for understanding contemporary reactionary social movements.

Understanding the Longitudinal Impact of a Chatbot to Facilitate a Virtual Community of Practice for Teachers in Rural Côte d’Ivoire

Communities of practice can improve teachers’ professional development through informal in-person discussions among community members. However, infrastructural challenges pose difficulties in fostering in-person connections, particularly in rural communities in the Global South. The emergence of social media and chatbots has presented an avenue for creating virtual communities for teachers, especially those in rural areas. An unanswered question is the potential impact of a chatbot-supported virtual teacher community on teachers’ professional development. To answer this question, we conducted a longitudinal quasi-experiment involving 313 teachers participating in a new training program in rural Côte d’Ivoire by deploying a chatbot on Facebook Messenger. Our experiment had two chatbot versions for two regions, i.e., one version supporting virtual community and one control. Our findings indicate that teachers in the virtual community condition exhibited modest enhancements in motivation and knowledge indicators. We make a case for implementing virtual communities of practice facilitated by chatbots to bolster the professional development of teachers in rural African contexts.

Factors influencing user's health information discernment abilities in online health communities: based on SEM and fsQCA.

Online health communities have become the main source for people to obtain health information. However, the existence of poor-quality health information, misinformation, and rumors in online health communities increases the challenges in governing information quality. It not only affects users' health decisions but also undermines social stability. It is of great significance to explore the factors that affect users' ability to discern information in online health communities. This study integrated the Stimulus-Organism-Response Theory, Information Ecology Theory and the Mindsponge Theory to constructed a model of factors influencing users' health information discernment abilities in online health communities. A questionnaire was designed based on the variables in the model, and data was collected. Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in conjunction with fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), the study analyzed the complex causal relationships among stimulus factors, user perception, and the health information discernment abilities. The results revealed that the dimensions of information, information environment, information technology, and information people all positively influenced health information discernment abilities. Four distinct configurations were identified as triggers for users' health information discernment abilities. The core conditions included information source, informational support, technological security, technological facilitation, and perceived risk. It was also observed that information quality and emotional support can act as substitutes for one another, as can informational support and emotional support. This study provides a new perspective to study the influencing factors of health information discernment abilities of online health community users. It can provide experiences and references for online health community information services, information resource construction and the development of users' health information discernment abilities.

You’re doing it wrong: the governance of motherhood through mommy blogs

ABSTRACT Mommy blog communities have been established by mothers who publish their stories online with the stated purpose to empower themselves and their peers by offering a seemingly unfiltered representation of motherhood. While this benefit has been felt by many readers, there are invisible governing discourses that have prevented such blogs from becoming authentic spaces of resistance to the hegemonic ideals of motherhood. To understand the governing forces placed upon mothers through “mommy blogs,” we explored the question: How is motherhood shaped through narratives (re)presented in mommy blogs? Critical discourse analysis, informed by a governmentality perspective, was used to analyze mommy blog entries to illuminate representations of power and knowledge within the blog entries. The findings suggest that a governmentality perspective is useful in understanding how mommy blogs enact power over mothers using mechanisms of governance through 1) sameness and imperfection, 2) perceived self-compassion, 3) advice and support, and 4) the scientification of motherhood. As more people turn to online communities for support with the experience of mothering, it is important to garner a critical understanding of how mommy blogs continue to influence contemporary experiences of motherhood.

When Diapers are Erotic: Investigation of 197 People with Adult-Baby-Syndrome (Autonepophilia)

Goal: Autonepophilia is a behaviour of adults in which people behave like toddlers. They wear diapers, suck on pacifiers and love it to be cared for from other people. Often an erotic component is involved and urinating into the diaper is connected with sexual arousal. Currently only a small number of studies exist about the AB/DL-syndrome (adult baby / diaper lovers). This study aimed to characterize causes in the development and typical behaviours of affected persons. Method: Data were collected in social networks and online communities for adult baby / diaper lovers. A sample of 184 male and 13 female participants with AB/DL behaviour was recruited and compared with a not-affected control group (158 male and 13 female). Primarily a questionnaire was used, which was developed to collect data about this syndrome by the authors. In addition the elements of the „Giessen-Test-II“ (GT-II, Beckmann et al.) and the „Need Inventory of Sensation Seeking“ (NISS, Hamelstein et al.) were used. Results: Data support a psychodynamic, behavioural and biopsychological explanation for AB/DL behaviour. Predisposing factors were the absence of a secure attachment object, lower stimulation in the anal stage, associations between infant care and first sexual arousal, enuresis and testosterone deficiency. The main motive was the reduction of stress and tensions. In contrast to the short excitement, in a long term practicing of AB/DL led to strong feelings of humiliation and shame. Moreover, AB/DL affected individuals had fewer, shorter and poorer-qualities of partnerships compared to the control group. No significant differences were found with respect to the expression of docility or sensation seeking. Conclusion: The study shows evidence of a psychodynamic explanation for the Adult Baby Syndrome. The absence of a safe attachment object and understimulation in the anal phase of development were identified as possible predisposing factors. In combination with the fact, that AB/DL sufferers more often come from divorced and adoptive families, it can be assumed that the origin of this behaviour is in the external circumstances of childhood and youth.

The constellations of design: Architects’ practice modalities when working with embodied individuals and virtual collectives in later life facilities in the UK

Abstract Architects’ practice is characterized by a narrative of progressive unease about lack of autonomy coupled with a recent steer from professional figureheads towards the benefits of connected ways of working with other occupations, such as contractors and developers, rather than boundary protection. We explore this through a study of UK architects working on residential facilities for later life, involving semi-structured interviews with architects and ethnographic fieldwork of two building projects followed over time. We show that architects experience key stakeholders in their intersection on two axes: as ‘virtual-embodied’ and ‘individual(s)-collective(s)’. Facility end-users (residents, staff) are encountered more commonly in virtual (abstract) than in embodied (tangible, visible) form, and as collectives rather than as individuals (as ‘virtual collectives’). In juxtaposition, they tend to encounter clients (facility owners, developers), building contractors, and planners in embodied rather than virtual form and as individuals rather than as collectives (as ‘embodied individuals’). We explore the consequences for architects’ ‘practice modalities’, broadly defined as how something happens, is done, or is experienced. We show that ‘embodied individuals’ foster a practice modality of ‘dependency and contingency’ where stakeholders tend to have more sway, whereas ‘virtual communities’ enable a practice modality of ‘autonomy and personal artistry’. However, ‘embodied individuals’ and ‘virtual collectives’ are mutually informing rather than independent sets of relationships; that is, they bear on each other during the architect’s work, sometimes in challenging, even conflicting, ways. An analysis of how architects navigate this helps to understand how a build evolves as it does from architects’ perspectives.

Using social Cognitive theory to reengage dormant users in question and answer Communities: A case study of active StackOverflow participants

Online question-and-answer communities are seriously threatened by low user participation. There is currently a rare comprehensive study on the knowledge contribution pattern of consistently active participants and the moderating role of peer recognition, which can help improve low participation and reengage inactive users, despite researchers having examined the various facets of knowledge contribution and made helpful suggestions. As per the self-determination and social cognitive theory, the communal environment impacts peers and imitates role models or reliable sources in their involvement patterns. We have examined StackOverflow’s most reliable active users from 2010 to 2020 using the social cognition and self-determination theories to use the findings to reactivate dormant users. We have used a two-step dynamic system GMM model to get robust and reliable findings. The research discovered that peer repudiation, reputation, and online social interactions favorably affect the contributed knowledge. However, knowledge-seeking and earning virtual badges such as gold and bronze usually negatively impact it. Furthermore, it was revealed that the effect of virtual badges on contributed knowledge was positively moderated by peer recognition. However, peer recognition reduces the benefits of social interaction and reputation on the contributed knowledge. The study’s findings advance the body of knowledge and provide thorough management implications for raising low participation, reengaging inactive users, and cultivating a culture of innovative sharing of knowledge.

Discursive Patinas: Anchoring Discussions in Data Visualizations.

This paper presents discursive patinas, a technique to visualize discussions onto data visualizations, inspired by how people leave traces in the physical world. While data visualizations are widely discussed in online communities and social media, comments tend to be displayed separately from the visualization and we lack ways to relate these discussions back to the content of the visualization, e.g., to situate comments, explain visual patterns, or question assumptions. In our visualization annotation interface, users can designate areas within the visualization. Discursive patinas are made of overlaid visual marks (anchors), attached to textual comments with category labels, likes, and replies. By coloring and styling the anchors, a meta visualization emerges, showing what and where people comment and annotate the visualization. These patinas show regions of heavy discussions, recent commenting activity, and the distribution of questions, suggestions, or personal stories. We ran workshops with 90 students, domain experts, and visualization researchers to study how people use anchors to discuss visualizations and how patinas influence people's understanding of the discussion. Our results show that discursive patinas improve the ability to navigate discussions and guide people to comments that help understand, contextualize, or scrutinize the visualization. We discuss the potential of anchors and patinas to support discursive engagements, including critical readings of visualizations, design feedback, and feminist approaches to data visualization.

Run for the group: Examining the effects of group-level social interaction features of fitness apps on exercise participation

Mobile fitness apps have gained popularity as a way of improving healthy behaviors. This study investigates the design and influence of fitness apps from a novel “group” perspective, focusing on the effects of group-level social interaction features in exercise participation. Through empirical studies on a unique dataset, we propose and verify a conceptual framework that shows that (1) group role model inspiration and group comparison features facilitate the intra-group assimilation and inter-group contrast processes and further significantly improve group participation, and that (2) offline activities moderate the effects of group comparison features on group participation. This study contributes to the literature on online communities and fitness apps/service design by demonstrating the motivating power of group-level interactions and online–offline engagement. It also provides practical guidelines for fitness app developers.

Does participating in online communities enhance the effectiveness and experience of micro-learning? Evidence from a randomized control trial

In the age of information explosion, people are increasingly accustomed to acquiring knowledge during fragmented periods of time, which has contributed to the growing popularity of micro-learning. However, when micro-learning takes place in non-formal or informal settings, it can be easily disrupted and may lack interaction, negatively impacting the learning experience and knowledge acquisition. This study examined the effect of learning communities on knowledge acquisition and learning experience in non-formal micro-learning settings. An 8-module micro-learning course was designed, and 80 participants were divided into an experimental group with a learning community and a control group without one. All participants completed a pre-test and post-test. The results showed significant improvements in post-test scores for both groups, with no notable difference in knowledge acquisition between them. Learners who took notes and repeatedly reviewed the learning content tended to have higher post-test scores. In addition, differences between the groups in terms of mental effort and satisfaction were insignificant. By the end of the course, the control group expressed a stronger desire to join a learning community. Community learners who made significant progress reported enjoying learning within the community, while those who did not regularly check community messages and experienced a decrease in test scores reported that excessive messaging caused distress. These findings have implications for course designers and researchers aiming to enhance micro-learning through online learning communities.

Nurturing the Teaching Soul: An Investigation on How Participation in Online Communities and Social Networks Boosts Academics Well-being, Professional Satisfaction, and Resilience

This study explores how online community and social network participation impact academics' well-being, professional satisfaction, and resilience. It aims to provide insights into the role of digital platforms in nurturing the teaching soul, a concept encompassing academics' intrinsic motivation, passion, and emotional commitment to their profession. Utilizing a qualitative approach, the research involved interviews with 13 administrators and 43 lecturers from 10 Ugandan universities, totalling 56 participants. The study employed a semi-structured interview guide developed based on social constructivism, focusing on online interactions' collaborative and supportive nature. Data were analyzed using NVivo 12 through thematic coding, with themes developed iteratively to ensure mutual exclusivity and address potential overlaps. The study identified three main themes: Supportive online communities, professional growth and satisfaction, and resilience building. The findings highlight the positive impact of online communities on various aspects of academics' professional lives. The study contributes to understanding how digital platforms can be harnessed to support and enhance academics' well-being, satisfaction, and resilience. Future research should explore longitudinal impacts and the effectiveness of specific online community practices. Practical recommendations include developing targeted university policies to leverage online communities for professional development and well-being initiatives, ensuring that these digital tools are effectively integrated into academics' professional lives.