Hammond, Michael (2017) What is an online community? A new definition based around commitment; connection; reciprocity; interaction; agency; and consequences. International Journal of Web Based Communities, 13 (1). pp. 118-136. doi:10.1504/IJWBC.2017.082717 ISSN 1477-8394.

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Abstract

This paper explores the concept of online community. It is divided into three main sections. The first examines the challenge of defining the concepts of community and being online. The second looks at definitions of online community as well as the ways in which the term has been used across a wide range of contexts, covering issues of
attachment, emotion, community strength, motivation for participation, and relationship to technology. The third provides a general definition of online community around six key elements: commitment; connection to others; reciprocity; interaction; agency and consequences. The paper sensitises practitioners and researchers to the contested nature of community and provides a definition that is both broad and complex.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Centre for Education Studies (2013- )
Journal or Publication Title:	International Journal of Web Based Communities
Publisher:	Inderscience Publishers
ISSN:	1477-8394
Official Date:	9 March 2017
Dates:	Date Event 9 March 2017 Available 17 February 2016 Accepted
Volume:	13
Number:	1
Page Range:	pp. 118-136
DOI:	10.1504/IJWBC.2017.082717
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Date of first compliant deposit:	16 May 2016
Date of first compliant Open Access:	27 April 2017

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