User:Belinda Gatz

Belinda Gatz Belinda Gatz 19:10, 29 Jul 2004 (EST)

Annotated Bibliography

The Social Implications of Chat Rooms

Bellamy, A. Hanewicz, C. (1999) Social Psychological Dimensions of Electronic Communication. [Online]. Available: http://www.sociology.org/content/Vol004.001/bellamy.html [Accessed: 11 August 2004]

The authors provide a study into the psychological aspects of chat rooms, in particular the degree to which the emotions of certain users are constrained by hostile communication portrayed by others. The study investigates the symbolic interaction between users in order to analyse the communication process within the chat room whilst applying the framework of interaction into understanding emerging social processes and structures that can arise in a chat room. The extensive information provided by the study includes the social psychological variables that can affect users whilst also providing examples of certain theories to explain the Internet phenomenon of chat rooms.

Erickson, T. (1997) Social Interaction on the Net: Virtual Communities as Participatory Genre. [Online]. Available: http://www.pliant.org/personal/Tom_Erickson/vc_as_Genre.html [Accessed: 10 August 2004].

The journal article looks at chat rooms as a virtual community and analyses the nature of the conversations that take place within. The paper suggests that conversations amongst those involved in virtual communities are participatory rather than as part of a community genre, as many people believe. By using genre as a tool for analysis, Erickson identifies the communicative purpose and substance of online conversations. Whilst many people apply Rheingold's theory of virtual community, Erickson suggest a parallel framework that can be used to analyse the use of chat rooms and those who participate in them. The paper looks at a variety of issues from community and genre, in which Erickson argues that the use of the word 'community' has many implications for people in society including exclusions and lack of shared values and beliefs, to an insightful example of online 'community' which has been analysed according to Ericksons' theory.

Fernback, J. Thompson, B. (1995)Virtual Communities: Abort, Retry, Failure? [Online]. Available: http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/social/papers/fernb.htm [Accessed: 10 August 2004]

Fernback and Thompson examine the changing notions of communication in virtual networks, in particular through chat rooms. The paper discusses the idea of community as a framework and then applies the concept to online chat rooms. An investigation into the various definitions and theories surrounding virtual communities is also presented. Fernback and Thompson publicise throughout their paper their belief that new communication technology has the potential to affect the nature of social life in terms of relationships and communities and therefore, the authors' examine the conceptualisations of virtual communities in order to enhance the readers understanding of society's involvement in Cyberspace. The implications that can arise from such technology such as chat rooms is also thoroughly examined.

Hartley, J. (2002) Communication, Cultural and Media Studies. Routledge, London. ISBN 0415268885

Harley provides thorough definitions of key concepts in relation to new media including 'virtual communities' and the 'Internet'.

Healy, J. (2002) The Internet - Uses and Abuses. The Spinney Press, New South Wales. ISBN 1876811706

This book, containing a number of articles by various authors, provides a broad overview of the Internet, covering issues from current trends of users to Internet censorship and avoiding abuse online. It also offers information regarding the use of chat rooms including the possible dangers arising from the participation in such sites and how to protect your privacy in such situations.

Keen, C. (2003) US Study: Online Dating Virtually Irresistible to Some Married Folk. [Online]. Available: http://www.napa.ufl.edu/2003news/internetinfidelity.htm [Accessed: 11 August 2004].

The University of Florida released this study which exploresIinternet chat rooms as a basis for dating online. The study reports that chat rooms are the fastest-rising cause of relationship breakdowns whilst also offering information as to the reasoning behind the popularity of chat rooms with various results being found These included the potential of a relationship be it friendship or intimate, to the possibility of engaging in cybersex. Keen highlights the fact that an alarming number of innocent meetings in chat rooms often lead to strong sexual desire with action usually undertaken. Overall, the study emphasises the act of cheating online in chat rooms as a serious implication for society.

King, S. (1994) The Psychology of Cyberspace. [Online]. Available: http://webpages.charter.net/StormKing/cyberpsy.html [Accessed: 10 August 2004].

The article discusses issues regarding the psychological and social issues regarding virtual communities. The author provides a definition of social psychology on the Internet as well as offering numerous predictions for the future of cyberspace. While there is limited information presented, the facts that are offered are noteworthy.

Kollock, P. Smith, M. (1998) Communities in Cyberspace. [Online]. Available: http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/social/papers/Kollock.htm [Accessed: 11 August 2004].

This article discusses how communicating online in chat rooms etc. enable users to discuss a range of topics to entertain and fulfil their interests, whilst highlighting both communication media and group media as forms of sustaining and supporting interaction between people around the world. Kollock and Smith stress the positive effects of networks through examining issues such as prosperity and democracy arising from the internet, and thus strengthens the bonds that connect users to the social world of chat rooms. The authors also offer alternate views in regard to chat rooms whilst analysing patterns of online social interactions. Email, discussion lists and the World Wide Web are also explored with key concepts of identity, social order and control arising as possible implications of chat rooms that could result in affecting society.

Lee, F. Vogel, D. Limayen, M. Journal of Information Technology Theory and Application Virtual Communities Informatives: A Review and Research Agenda. [Online]Available: http://proquest.umi.com.gateway.library.qut.edu.au/pqdweb?index+1&did+00000038240475&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=4&Vinst= [Accessed: 10 August 2004].

The concept of the virtual community is explored in the journal including information on the various definitions of the concept by a number of researchers, whilst classifying such concepts into various catergories such as cyberspace and communication, interaction and content driven meanings. Through such research, a working definition of virtual communities is presented. The article also provides information into the classification of virtual communities according to their underlying principles. These include social structures and impacts through to the technological bases upon which the community is implemented. The article shows that such concepts are used to form areas of suitable classification for communities online.

Lamble, J. Morris, S. (2001) Online and Personal: The Reality of Internet Relationships. Finch Publishing Pty Ltd, Australia. ISBN 1876451173

Online and Personal offers information surrounding the phenomena of online relationships through the use of chat rooms and online dating, focusing on issues such as the dangers of online relationships and the difference between conventional and Internet relationships. The book also offers help for those in committed relationships that have been threatened by the use of the Internet. Topics such as the advantages and disadvantages of online relationships are also explored, with the authors presenting real life experience in which people tell their personal story of their adventures with both chat rooms and Internet relationships.

Rheingold, H. (1993) The Virtual Community: Homesteading on the Electronic Frontier. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data, Canada. ISBN 0201608707

Rheingold's book provides a comprehensive insight into the creation of virtual communities and cultures online. Rheingold investigates the phenomenon of online culture in a number of countries and the development of personal interaction through the Internet whilst also exploring daily life in cyberspace, the notion of alternate Internet identities and virtual communities. Rheingold also looks at the loss of online democracy to large corporations whilst providing extensive information of online human culture.

Suler, J. Essential Issues in Cyberpsychology: Comprehensive Overview. The Psychology of Cyberspace. [Online]. Available: http://www.truecentrepoint.com/ve/essentials.html [Accessed: 11 August 2004].

The overview explores the notion of cyberspace and the psychological patterns of many of its participants. In-depth information into the psychological qualities of cyberspace are explored and issues such as the powerful forms of self expression through to identity flexibility in chat rooms are investigated. Other aspects of communication in cyberspace such as disinhibition, transference and personality types in chat rooms and the implications that arise from such notions are also provided. Identity Management and examples of the positive and negative impacts of chat rooms are also recognised.

Turkle, S. (1996) Virtuality and It's Discontents: Searching for Community in Cyberspace. (Adapted from Life On The Screen.) [Online]. Available: http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/social/papers/Turkle1.html [Accessed: 10 August 2004]

Turkle discusses in her paper virtual reality in terms of what is considered fact and fiction. The author provides a comprehensive analysis of issues such as Virtuality and Sex and Violence in Cyberspace. The implications due to the loss of reality within networks and chat rooms is also explored with Turkle offering various reflections on many aspects of socialising online. With real life experiences reflecting both the positive and negative implications of virtual reality, Turkle delivers the understanding that users 'don't have to reject life on the screen but we don't have to treat it as an alternative life either.'