Online Communities Research Articles

Let’s Be Honest: Adolescents Speak Up on How to Better Protect Young People from Gambling Harm

AbstractThe importance of safeguarding young people from harmful gambling is widely acknowledged, but limited research has sought adolescents’ perspectives on strategies to provide this protection. The current study addresses this gap in understanding. Eighty-nine Australians aged 12–17 years, classed as either at-risk/problem gamblers, non-problem gamblers or non-gamblers, participated in qualitative interview and/or online community conditions. Themes extracted from the data on the things participants believe should be implemented to achieve this aim include open and honest advice from parents; schools-based education that is meaningful, authentic and based on lived experience; truth and transparency in advertising; social marketing that reaches and informs youth; and governments to regulate the gambling and gaming industries into acting ethically and not exploiting young people. At-risk/problem gambler adolescents were able to offer more detailed suggestions on strategies that would protect young people from gambling harm, frequently drawing on their own personal experiences or the stories they heard from others. Multifaceted strategies are required to help adolescents make informed decisions about gambling. Developing and implementing such strategies to protect minors from gambling harm requires a cohesive effort and commitment to addressing this public health issue. Recommendations on how regulators, industry, parents and other stakeholders may contribute to this effort are discussed.

Interoperable and scalable echosounder data processing with Echopype

Abstract Echosounders are high-frequency sonar systems used to sense fish and zooplankton underwater. Their deployment on a variety of ocean observing platforms is generating vast amounts of data at an unprecedented speed from the oceans. Efficient and integrative analysis of these data, whether across different echosounder instruments or in combination with other oceanographic datasets, is crucial for understanding marine ecosystem response to the rapidly changing climate. Here we present Echopype, an open-source Python software library designed to address this need. By standardizing data as labeled, multi-dimensional arrays encoded in the widely embraced netCDF data model following a community convention, Echopype enhances the interoperability of echosounder data, making it easier to explore and use. By leveraging scientific Python libraries optimized for distributed computing, Echopype achieves computational scalability, enabling efficient processing in both local and cloud computing environments. Echopype’s modularized package structure further provides a unified framework for expanding support for additional instrument raw data formats and incorporating new analysis functionalities. We plan to continue developing Echopype by supporting and collaborating with the echosounder user community, and envision that the growth of this package will catalyze the integration of echosounder data into broader regional and global ocean observation strategies.

Between the East and the West. Regional Transformations and the Development of Polish Research Libraries 1989–2023

Abstract The article explores developments and challenges in Polish research libraries from 1989, which opened the country up to new economic, technological, educational, and cultural realities to the present. These decades saw intense development, particularly in technology, although not without stumbling blocks. How have libraries benefitted and changed? How sustainable and useful for user communities are these changes? The article is based on available data and studies, and on the author’s own observations and experience from 30 years of managerial activity in one of Poland’s research libraries.

The Philosophy of Openness in Terms of Accessibility through Virtual Worlds: The Case of Distance Education

This article aims to investigate the role of virtual worlds in enhancing the philosophy of openness in terms of accessibility in distance education. A bibliographic research was conducted, based on specific sampling criteria, to search and collect contemporary and topic-related literature, emphasising the last ten years. Articles and books on openness, accessibility, distance education, and virtual worlds were collected through research sources, such as Google Scholar, HEAL-Link and ERIC, utilising relevant keywords. This information was then organised and synthesised to show the importance of using virtual worlds to enhance accessibility in Open and Distance Education. According to the literature, Second Life is the most prevalent virtual platform within the educational community, thanks to its openness and the diverse opportunities for creating interactive virtual learning environments that foster the skills necessary for contemporary education. It is also noteworthy that virtual worlds, like Second Life, increase accessibility for people with disabilities, breaking down many physical barriers and providing significant opportunities for socialisation and learning. In conclusion, in the context of Open and Distance Education, virtual worlds like Second Life offer: a) an interactive, creative and collaborative environment with numerous possibilities and diverse sensory stimuli; b) accessible environments without spatiotemporal constraints; c) inclusive environments for users with disabilities and other vulnerable social groups, d) virtual visits to historical and art projects, workshops, and more, e) the creation of personalised learning experiences of high aesthetic value, and f) the democratisation of knowledge, since virtual communities, projects and activities in the virtual environment, can be open without spatiotemporal and economic constraints most of the time. Utilising virtual worlds increases accessibility, a strong indicator of openness in any educational context.

Kenyan Female Immigrants’ Creation of a Virtual Enclave: The Influence of Age and Immigration Status

ABSTRACTMuch of the research on ethnic enclaves in the United States has focussed on physical, geographic spaces or brick‐and‐mortar establishments that foster community building and provide shared resources for immigrant groups, such as those from Latin America, Asia and Europe. These studies often highlight the benefits and challenges enclaves provide, with only a limited discussion of how immigrant women use these spaces. Using survey data drawn from Kenyan women residing in the United States, this study aimed to answer two research questions: (1) Does membership in social media groups comprised of Kenyan female immigrants vary (e.g. by age, immigration status)? (2) Do age and immigration/citizenship status influence Kenyan female immigrants' reasons for joining social media groups? The bivariate results show that older women and those who migrated to the United States for school or through the Green Card lottery programme were likelier to join Tumaini and other immigrant‐specific social media groups. Regarding factors influencing their reasons for joining these groups, the regression results revealed that US citizens and permanent residents were less likely to join the group for solidarity/support. Furthermore, those who migrated for school or to join family members were likelier to join the Tumaini group for support/solidarity. This finding suggests that older women, being more likely to belong to physical social groups, have a relatively stronger attachment to such groups. Consequently, their willingness to join the Tumaini group, despite it being an online community, may be stronger than that of their younger counterparts.

MODELLING OF SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL ADAPTATION OF AN INDIVIDUAL TO DIGITAL RISKS IN EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SELF-DETERMINATION

Automated semantic analysis and topic modelling methods were first applied to a large corpus of public online communities and discussions to analyse strategies for responding to digital risks in modern society. A large array of public data on profiles of the social network “Vkontakte” and their subscriptions to online communities was used to train a predictive model of individual adaptation to risks in the field of education and professional self-determination. Based on the results of thematic modelling, three topics of subscriptions to online communities were identified as signs of psychological adaptation: preparation for exams, self-development and “popular” psychology, education and science. The developed version of the predictive model of psychological adaptation showed high accuracy and the importance of such factors as age, gender and place of residence for individual adaptation to digital risks in the field of education and professional self-determination.

ANALISIS FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI MINAT MENGGUNAKAN E-WALLET (OVO) PADA MASYARAKAT DI KOTA MALANG

This research was conducted to determine the factors that influence the OVO E Wallet in the community in Malang City. The method used is a quantitative method with primary data taken using a questionnaire. This research used a sample of 172 respondents who were selected using the lemmeshow formula and purposive sampling technique. The population of this research is the community of OVO E-Wallet users in Malang City. The data was processed using multiple linear regression analysis methods. The research results show that perceived convenience (X1) has a positive and significant effect on interest in using (Y), perception of usefulness (X2) has a positive and significant effect on interest in using (Y), income (X3) has a positive and significant effect on interest in using (Y) , Age (X4) has a positive and significant effect on interest in using (Y) and education level (X5) has a negative and significant effect on interest in using (Y).

Do Video Games Enhance Competencies & Skills? Study Case: Civil Engineering Students

The following article is a text that shows the relevance of including video games as part of an academic technique that promotes coexistence, communication, teamwork, develop some skills, competencies, and creativity among members of the university community -professors and students-. The objective of this research is to show the results obtained in a dynamic organized by the Civil Engineering department of a private university in Puebla, Mexico. The idea is to hold a private session and play “Call of Duty: Warzone II”. It should be noted that with this activity the students can learn a specific content, in this case, the analysis of a hydraulic press, how it is built and how it works. In addition, the activity carried on, helped to create a better bond between teachers and students, but above all, showed the possibilities to generate greater interest in learning and to get the students actively involved in one topic. The theoretical framework on which this research lies in the following topics: Game-Based Learning -GBL-, innovative education focused on video games as community generators, and the importance of the development of certain skills among college students. The methodology that this study has, is quantitative. Particularly, a questionnaire -Likert scale-, is carried out to the students who participated in this dynamic. The main results show that the people who were in the virtual session are excited to interact under another type of scenarios that goes beyond the classroom, and that “breaking” the barrier between teacher and alumni becomes a differentiating and innovative element. In educational matters, they consider that the learning obtained from a video game is something that they had not contemplated; Added to this, the students ensure that working as a team, communicating their needs and doubts between peers, and getting involved in this kind of forums helps generate greater interest in engineering and acquire new knowledge. Finally, it can be concluded that video games nowadays are an indispensable tool not only to foster an online community but to take the teaching and learning process to another level.

Overall burden and impact on health-related quality of life associated with intravesical treatment of patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer in the United States

Background This study aimed to describe the life impacts of intravesical therapies for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) from a patient perspective. Methods A cross-sectional online survey design was used. Adults with NMIBC (and no other cancer) treated intravesically in the prior 12 months were recruited from US patient online communities. Individuals participating in a clinical trial or treated with erdafitinib were excluded. Participants’ treatment experiences were evaluated using a questionnaire comprising (a) custom questions reported on 11-point numerical rating scales and (b) validated patient reported outcome (PRO) measures for bladder symptom burden and work productivity. Results Among 171 survey participants, most received bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) (83%), intravesical gemcitabine (28%), or gemcitabine + docetaxel (13%) during the past year. Participants generally felt adequately informed about treatment, felt expectation of treatment matched actual experience, and expressed intent to complete the full treatment course and willingness to try different treatments if needed. Participants reported disease symptom burden of 42.6/72 on the NFBlSI-18 scale. Employed participants reported 51% work impairment and 59% overall work productivity loss due to NMIBC. Conclusions Participants recently treated with intravesical therapies expressed intent to complete the full treatment course and willingness to try new therapies if needed. Participants reported high NMIBC symptom burden and work impairment negatively impacting their well-being, despite receiving intravesical treatment.

Communication aspects of the development management in digital healthcare

The development of digital technologies in the Russian healthcare system implies communication processes, e.g. interaction of management structures and performers, doctor-patient communications, standards of medical care, and many others. This requires solving a number of managerial, organizational, and ethical problems. The Russian government has defined the main goals of healthcare digitalization: providing the population with medical services at a qualitatively different modern level, satisfying the modern demands of society, allowing the use of modern achievements of world and domestic medicine in the widest possible range. The authors consider the problems of digitalization of medicine, the solution of which is proposed through the optimization of communications of the professional community. The proposals have been developed based on the generalization of the results of sociological surveys of patients of Moscow dental clinics “Use of electronic medical records” (March 2022) conducted by the authors, a survey of residents of Tomsk (N = 107) and Moscow (N = 157) waiting for an appointment at city clinics (March 2022), as well as a substantive analysis of the websites of professional online communities “Analysis of the content of discussions in online communities of medical workers” (August 2018 – February 2019). A secondary analysis of data is based on the sociological studies by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM). Based on the results of the study, it was established that a number of problems are associated with the legal uncertainty of procedures and methods for applying digital technologies, the issue of developing communicative competencies in the professional environment remains relevant, the need for an exchange of experience in the implementation of digital technologies in the practice of doctors and administrators, professional development of personnel, and the involvement of the most active employees in the processes of designing and implementing digital technologies.

‘Re-coupling site’ of social media and the workplace in digital nomadism: Chinese female workers’ self-produced vlogs with class and gender connotations

ABSTRACT We observe that a new, minor genre of resistance has emerged among female worker vloggers. Whether working in manufacturing plants or on construction sites, these female worker vloggers actively produce videos about the laughter and tears of their work lives. Their workplaces constitute the central source of their daily vlog production. We develop a concept of ‘re-coupling site’ to explore how these female vloggers transform conventional workplaces into novel digital sites, simultaneously turning themselves into digital laborers, to articulate their voices, perform their work identities, and enact their daily resistance. This concept helps induce a new interpretation of place and placed experience to fashion our understanding of working-class digital nomadism in the Global South context, where digital and cultural production can happen at work. Perhaps more importantly, the class and gender experiences articulated in their vlogs have been translated into collective practices that potentially foreground the formation of class-based online communities.

A gateway for access to solutions for underwater radiated noise

The SATURN (Solutions AT Underwater Radiated Noise) Virtual Research Environment (VRE) is a gateway for access to products generated by the SATURN project. The SATURN consortium aims to work in harmony with the purpose to identify: a. The sounds that are most detrimental to aquatic species and how they are produced and propagated. b. The short-term and cumulative long-term negative impacts of noise from shipping and boats on three representative groups of aquatic species in rivers and the sea (invertebrates, fish and marine mammals). c. The most promising options for measuring and reducing the negative impacts of ship noise that can be applied to current and future vessels. The objective of the present work is to outline some of the products, tools and methodologies of the SATURN Virtual Research Environment which intend to provide solutions and recommendations for underwater noise mitigation, while integrating the needs expressed by the user community. The SATURN VRE will foster use of data and data products, standardized methods, impact of URN on aquatic life, and solutions to decrease ship noise for usability beyond the project. The environment will be deployed and hosted by PLOCAN.

Developing a Public Health Course to Train Undergraduate Student Health Messengers to Address Vaccine Hesitancy in an American Indian Community.

The purpose of the Diné Teachings and Public Health Students Informing Peers and Relatives about Vaccine Education (RAVE) project was to develop strategies for health communication that addressed COVID-19 vaccine safety for residents of the Navajo Nation. The RAVE project developed a 16-week course using the Diné Educational Philosophy as a framework to train Diné College (DC) public health undergraduate students (n = 16) as health messengers to share COVID-19 vaccine safety information with unvaccinated peers and relatives. An online community survey (n = 50) was used to assess DC community vaccination perceptions to guide course development. The two primary reasons survey participants got vaccinated were to protect the health of others [82% (n = 41)] and to protect their own health [76% (n = 38)]. A pretest/post-test and a retrospective pretest (n = 13) were implemented to determine course effectiveness. A finding approaching significance was related to student confidence in being health messengers (9.1% increase). RAVE offers the first example in the published literature of successfully training American Indian undergraduate students in the context of a public health course to contribute to the response workforce during a public health crisis.

Queer tourism geographies and placemaking: beyond homonormativity

Queer spaces emerge as a response to the restrictive nature of homonormativity, which compels queer individuals to conform to dominant cis-heteronormativities. This underscores the need for in-depth knowledge about queer spaces, particularly those that extend beyond the experiences of gay men. This study explores how lesbian and queer women as mobile transnationals create space for themselves in Copenhagen, a city recognised as the world’s most gay-friendly place. It employs an interpretivist research paradigm utilizing a critical feminist and queer geography lens. Findings from observations and interviews reveal the absence of a specific lesbian space in Copenhagen; instead, numerous queer spaces are characterised by fluidity, safety, community and their welcoming approach towards LGBTQIA+ travellers. Lesbian and queer women do not become visible through physical spaces but through the strong networks they have created for themselves. A queer space offers a sense of safety within a public setting for the community that gathers there. Additionally, lesbian and queer women actively reshape and conquer existing cis-heteronormative spaces through material and immaterial practices such as exclusive online community spaces or through hosting queer events in spaces such as churches. The study addresses the absence of feminist and queer perspectives in a discourse on sustainable tourism geographies. It provides policymakers with insights and recommendations for creating inclusive, queer-friendly spaces.

Is there something that connects the diversity of historical narratives?

The interview with Kenneth Nordgren from Karlstad University, Sweden, addresses key questions about transcultural dialogue, the role of historical thinking, and the challenges of teaching history. The starting point is the question of how transcultural dialogue and historical thinking have changed in recent years from the perspective of the interviewee. The interview also discusses how transcultural academic exchange can be promoted, taking into account different educational contexts and social values. It further considers how to ensure that the academic debate is not dominated only by socially or economically privileged groups. Other topics include the role of digitalisation and online communities in history education, and the benefits of cross-disciplinary approaches. The extent to which current global challenges such as pandemics, wars and climate change underline the need for increased transcultural exchange in history education will also be addressed.

Conservation of Hindu Religious Lontar Manuscripts Through Lontar Digitization Website Information System in Tabanan Regency

Lontar as a cultural product is rich in meaning and raised the image of balinese traditions in the world civilization. The existence of lontar tradition nowadays in Tabanan Regency has a long and old history complemented by historical, religious, philosophical, medicinal, literary, and other great scientific values. This research aims to 1) conserve and digitize lontar in Tabanan Regency, and 2) create a website information system for digitizing lontar in Tabanan Regency. The research methods employed are palm conservation, system analysis, system planning, system design and system testing. The results of the research showed that 1) the conservation and digitalization of lontar was carried out in Tabanan can save the lontar, to keep it in a good condition, not damaged by termites or rodents, so it can continue to be passed on to the next generation as a reflection of the past about the medicine, ceremonies, religion, arts, and culture. 2) The lontar digitization website information system can be used as a guide for the public regarding lontar information and contents. In conclusion, the saving of Hindu religious lontar manuscripts through the lontar digitalization website information system in Tabanan Regency is carried out in the form of conservation and the creation of a lontar digitalization website information system, to make it accessible for the entire community online. In terms of culture, it can be passed down to the next generation as a form of cultural and religious preservation including medicine, ceremony, religion, art, and culture. The development of information system for the lontar digitization website is very good and important to save Hindu religious lontar manuscripts.

B2C Cross-Border E-Commerce: Spillover Effects of Knowledge Sharing in Virtual Communities

ABSTRACT Although customers often participate in cross-border e-commerce (CBEC), little is known about how customers obtain and process the knowledge they seek regarding cross-border e-commerce websites. This research explores cross-platform spillover effects of knowledge sharing in virtual communities on customers’ perceived website quality and customer service of independent cross-border e-commerce websites and their subsequent purchase intentions. By applying cue utilization theory and expectation-disconfirmation theory, we develop a model that captures how CBEC-related knowledge sharing in virtual communities influences customers’ purchase intentions on CBEC websites that are independent of these virtual communities. A quantitative survey of customers with CBEC purchase experience was conducted with three top virtual communities without associated CBEC websites, yielding 521 responses. The results suggest that CBEC-related knowledge sharing in virtual communities has significant positive effects on customers’ perceptions of website quality and customer service, and, thereafter, their purchase intentions. This research demonstrates that spillover effects from virtual communities to independent CBEC websites indeed exist and identifies the underlying mechanisms that explain how these spillover effects move from virtual communities to CBEC websites.

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI): Evaluating Models for Social Discourse Analysis among Patients with Kidney Disease in Online Communities

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI): Evaluating Models for Social Discourse Analysis among Patients with Kidney Disease in Online Communities

Неформальное гражданское участие населения в развитии малых и средних городов Европейского Севера России (на примере некоммерческих организаций и городских интернет-сообществ)

This article explores the informal public participation in the development of small and medium-sized cities in the European North of Russia. It focuses on two main aspects: the impact of nonprofit organizations (NGOs) and the activity of residents on social networks, particularly in discussions and solutions to local socio-economic issues. The study reveals that NGO activities create significant opportunities for addressing local concerns raised by residents to municipal authorities. An analysis of the official pages of local governments on the VKontakte social network shows that, compared to larger cities, residents of these smaller cities are more engaged in dialogue with local authorities, demonstrate higher loyalty to published content, and actively share information of interest. The research also finds that while residents of small and medium-sized cities actively discuss urban problems in informal online communities and participate in various kinds of socially beneficial events, their participation is generally prompted by external organizers. The level of self-organization to address broader citywide problems remains relatively low. However, when dealing with personal household matters, citizens actively communicate through urban online communities. The study also highlights a high level of trust among residents, as evidenced by their strong response to calls for help in the comments. The scientific novelty of this research lies in its first-time analysis of public participation and the assessment of resident involvement in the management and development processes of small and medium-sized cities, through mechanisms such as NGOs and urban Internet communities.

Prompting Responses through Linguistic Cues: A Comparison of User and Chatbot Support for Consumers' Questions

ABSTRACTWhen interacting with chatbots, questioning is the starting point of the conversations. A well‐phrased question can elicit desired responses and enhance information‐seeking efficiency. Specifically, consumers can use various linguistic cues (e.g., emotional expressiveness) to phrase questions and shape responses. However, research on how to effectively phrase questions for chatbots was limited. This study focuses on consumers' questions for chatbots, examining how various linguistic cues (e.g., emotional expressiveness) influence responses. Further, it compares responses generated by community users and chatbots. Preliminary results showed that askers' self‐disclosure attracted emotional support from chatbots. Chatbots demonstrated higher expertise in responses to high‐specificity questions and produced more analytical and unified responses. In contrast, user‐generated responses were perceived with higher authenticity. This research underscores the role of question cues prompting chatbot‐generated responses and illustrates the strengths and limits of chatbot‐generated responses. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed in the final section.