Virtual Ethnography Study of Inter-lecturer Communication in National Young Lecturers Forum WhatsApp Group
Abstract- Many lecturers use WhatsApp group chat to communicate, including the National Young Lecturers Forum/ Forum Dosen Muda Nusantara. This study aims to analyze the communication happened in FDMN WhatsApp group chat. This study based on virtual ethnography method. The informant chose using purposive sampling technique. In-depth interviews are done with three active members, two passive members, and one admin. Triangulation is done by method and data source triangulation, researcher’s triangulation and theory triangulation. The results show the informants agree that the reason they join the group is to meet their information need, share information regards the profession of lecturer, get the chance to be acquainted with other lecturers from all around Indonesia, build a networking, and share information regarding the real condition of various universities in Indonesia; there were members joint the FDMN WhatsApp group by click the link that shared by members of FDMN WhatsApp group and there were also members added by the admin; information shared and discussed in the group focused on the lecturer matters related; the interaction happens in the group can be categorized into five categories of social interaction that is exchange, competition, cooperation, conflict, and coercion; FDMN WhatsApp group has the cognitive, affective, and behavior effects to the group members. The results of the study might contribute to the issue of effective alternative media for inter-lecturer communication.