Evaluating the Effectiveness of Social Visualization Within Virtual Communities

Visualization Tool ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After ◽

Actual Effectiveness ◽

Social Visualization

Participation and system usage is crucial for virtual communities to develop and sustain. However, many communities report very low participation rates of members. Finding and studying strategies for fostering participation in virtual communities is therefore a growing field of research and different approaches for strengthening participation in virtual communities exist – among them social visualization. While many tools for visualizing social interactions have been developed, not much empirical evidence about their actual effectiveness exists. To find out more about the effectiveness of social visualization on the participation rate (number of logins, forum posts, personal messages, and chat posts) the authors conducted an empirical study within CyberMentor – a virtual community for high school girls interested in science and technology. In their sample of N=231 girls the authors did not find a significant difference between the number of logins in the phases before and after the introduction of the visualization tool. The number of forum post, chat posts and personal messages however increased significantly after the incorporation of the visualization tool. Long-term effects were found for one-to-many communication technologies (forum, chat), but not for personal messages (one-to-one).

Online Virtual Communities as a New Form of Social Relations

Social Computing ◽

10.4018/978-1-60566-984-7.ch145 ◽

2010 ◽

pp. 2226-2238

Author(s):

Almudena Moreno Mínguez ◽

Carolina Suárez Hernán

Keyword(s):

Social Relations ◽

Cultural Context ◽

Information Technologies ◽

Virtual Communities ◽

Online Communication ◽

Virtual Community ◽

New Information ◽

The Social ◽

Cyber Culture

The generalization of the new information technologies has favored the transformation of social structures and the way of relating to others. In this changing process, the logic of the social relationships is characterized by the fragility and the temporality of the communicative systems reciprocity which are established “online” in a new cybernetic culture. “Virtual communities” are created in which the interaction systems established by individuals exceed the traditional categories of time and space. In this manner the individuals create online social webs where they connect and disconnect themselves based on their needs or wishes. The new online communication technologies favor the rigid norms of the “solid society” that dilute in flexible referential contexts and reversible in the context of the “global and liquid society” to which the sociologists Bauman or Beck have referred to. Therefore the objective that the authors propose in this chapter is to try new theoretic tools, from the paradigms of the new sociology of technology, which let them analyze the new relational and cultural processes which are being generated in the cultural context of the information global society, as a consequence of the new communication technologies scope. Definitely the authors propose to analyze the meaning of concepts such as “virtual community”, “cyber culture”, or “contacted individualism”, as well as the meaning and extent of some of the new social and individual behaviors which are maintained in the Net society.

Handbook of Research on Social Dimensions of Semantic Technologies and Web Services ◽

Online Virtual Communities as a New Form of Social Relations

10.4018/978-1-60566-650-1.ch022 ◽

2010 ◽

pp. 435-447 ◽

Author(s):

Almudena Moreno Mínguez ◽

Carolina Suárez Hernán

Keyword(s):

Social Relations ◽

Cultural Context ◽

Information Technologies ◽

Virtual Communities ◽

Online Communication ◽

Virtual Community ◽

New Information ◽

The Social ◽

Cyber Culture

The generalization of the new information technologies has favored the transformation of social structures and the way of relating to others. In this changing process, the logic of the social relationships is characterized by the fragility and the temporality of the communicative systems reciprocity which are established “online” in a new cybernetic culture. “Virtual communities” are created in which the interaction systems established by individuals exceed the traditional categories of time and space. In this manner the individuals create online social webs where they connect and disconnect themselves based on their needs or wishes. The new online communication technologies favor the rigid norms of the “solid society” that dilute in flexible referential contexts and reversible in the context of the “global and liquid society” to which the sociologists Bauman or Beck have referred to. Therefore the objective that the authors propose in this chapter is to try new theoretic tools, from the paradigms of the new sociology of technology, which let them analyze the new relational and cultural processes which are being generated in the cultural context of the information global society, as a consequence of the new communication technologies scope. Definitely the authors propose to analyze the meaning of concepts such as “virtual community”, “cyber culture”, or “contacted individualism”, as well as the meaning and extent of some of the new social and individual behaviors which are maintained in the Net society.

The short-term clinical efficacy of amitriptyline in the management of idiopathic feline lower urinary tract disease: A controlled clinical study

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery ◽

10.1016/s1098-612x(03)00004-4 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 191-196 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

M Kraijer ◽

J Fink-Gremmels ◽

RF Nickel

Keyword(s):

Urinary Tract ◽

Lower Urinary Tract ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Term Therapy ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Short Term ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After ◽

Tract Disease ◽

Lower Urinary

In a controlled study, the effects of amitriptyline compared with that of a placebo in cats suffering from idiopathic Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) have been investigated. Thirty-six animals were selected by veterinary practitioners and treated with a placebo or 10 mg amitriptyline once daily. All animals received concomitant antibiotic treatment. A total of 24 cats were included in the final assessment of the results. The severity of symptoms before and after treatment were compared between groups and showed no significant difference. Results indicated that the 7-day course of 10 mg amitriptyline was not effective in the treatment of idiopathic FLUTD. Thus, it is considered not to be beneficial as a short-term therapy where the therapeutic results depend on peripheral effects of the drug. Long-term effects may be expected 4 or more weeks after the start of therapy and need to be further investigated.

Well, it is WELL: language and human interest in a virtual community

Revista Alicantina de Estudios Ingleses ◽

10.14198/raei.2006.19.15 ◽

2006 ◽

pp. 261 ◽

Author(s):

Obododimma Oha

Keyword(s):

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Sense Of Community ◽

Virtual Communities ◽

Virtual Community ◽

The Internet ◽

Human Identity ◽

Human Interest ◽

New Information ◽

Information And Communication

This paper discusses the pursuit of humanistic interests by Netizens, with particular reference to discourse in chat groups located in Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link (WELL), a virtual community founded by Stewart Brand and Larry Brilliant in 1985. It explores how language becomes a vital tool in building, reinventing, and promoting sense of community and creative freedom. It also examines the ways that conflicts are prevented and/or managed in the cyber conversations, and the struggles to live electronically with Netiquette. The quest to cater for human interests through the use of language in cyber conversations implies that there is a limit to freedom exercised by Netizens. Virtual communities like the WELL, configured as "a word palace", present useful data on patterns of behaviour that the New Information and Communication Technologies, especially the Internet, have generated, and which contemporary discourse scholarship cannot afford to overlook. A "word palace" poses a great challenge to human identity and mediations of such identities, relationships, and goals; it simulates and communicates power and power struggles, even when it appears to either minimize or transform such power to cooperation. Thus the WELL Netizen builds power through discourse and language that cater for "WELLbeing".

Building Trust in Virtual Communities

Virtual Technologies ◽

10.4018/978-1-59904-955-7.ch004 ◽

2008 ◽

pp. 35-43

Author(s):

István Mezgar

Keyword(s):

Virtual Communities ◽

New Technologies ◽

Virtual Community ◽

Human Beings ◽

Social Rules ◽

Face To Face ◽

Business Interests ◽

Normal Behavior ◽

Networked Society

Information processing and communication technologies are developing so rapidly today that it can said that there is a communication technology explosion. The new technologies widen the world for the individuals to reach other human beings regardless of where they are on the globe. Various groups of people can come together according to their private or business interests, forming a virtual community. In the generation and operation of these communities, cooperation and collaboration have significant role. On the other hand, these technologies deeply modify traditional forms of social connections, communication, and cultural habits as well. These modifications can be observed in particular in hierarchies, social rules, norms, conventions, familiarity, and reputation. A very important element of human contacts is trust. In a networked society, trust is the atmosphere, the medium in which actors are moving (Castelfranchi & Tan, 2001). Trust can bridge cultural, geographical, and organizational distances of members. Trust is the basis of cooperation, the normal behavior of the human being in the society. As the rate of cooperation is increasing in all fields of life, the importance of trust is evolving even faster. In this new communication environment new methods and techniques of trust building have to be developed, as the conventional rules of face-to-face approach cannot be applied. According to different experiments, the level of trust is highly influenced by the way/mode of communication and by the duration of contact.

Building Trust in Virtual Communities

Encyclopedia of Virtual Communities and Technologies ◽

10.4018/978-1-59140-563-4.ch002 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 4-9 ◽

Author(s):

István Mezgar

Keyword(s):

Virtual Communities ◽

New Technologies ◽

Virtual Community ◽

Human Beings ◽

Social Rules ◽

Face To Face ◽

Business Interests ◽

Normal Behavior ◽

Networked Society

Information processing and communication technologies are developing so rapidly today that it can said that there is a communication technology explosion. The new technologies widen the world for the individuals to reach other human beings regardless of where they are on the globe. Various groups of people can come together according to their private or business interests, forming a virtual community. In the generation and operation of these communities, cooperation and collaboration have significant role. On the other hand, these technologies deeply modify traditional forms of social connections, communication, and cultural habits as well. These modifications can be observed in particular in hierarchies, social rules, norms, conventions, familiarity, and reputation. A very important element of human contacts is trust. In a networked society, trust is the atmosphere, the medium in which actors are moving (Castelfranchi & Tan, 2001). Trust can bridge cultural, geographical, and organizational distances of members. Trust is the basis of cooperation, the normal behavior of the human being in the society. As the rate of cooperation is increasing in all fields of life, the importance of trust is evolving even faster. In this new communication environment new methods and techniques of trust building have to be developed, as the conventional rules of face-to-face approach cannot be applied. According to different experiments, the level of trust is highly influenced by the way/mode of communication and by the duration of contact.

The Short- and Long-term Effects of a Handbook on Antimicrobial Prescribing Patterns of Hospital Physicians

Infection Control ◽

10.1017/s0195941700058240 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 209-214 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

James Earl D'Eramo ◽

Herbert L. DuPont ◽

Gary A. Preston ◽

Michael H. Smolensky ◽

Lewis H. Roht

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Therapy ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Clinical Medicine ◽

University Hospital ◽

Prescribing Patterns ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Hospital Data ◽

Antimicrobial Prescribing ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After

AbstractThis study evaluates the effect of a specially designed, physician-oriented handbook of antimicrobial use on the prescribing patterns of a group of 50 doctors at a university hospital. Data were evaluated over a period of one-and-one-half years, before and after the distribution of the handbook. For the purposes of this study, antimicrobial therapy was classified: 1) inappropriate if it violated one of a number of recognized principles of antimicrobial therapy, 2) appropriate if it agreed with specific recommendations or alternatives given in the distributed reference handbook, and 3) acceptable if it was neither inappropriate nor appropriate as defined by the handbook. An initial survey of antimicrobial prescribing patterns was made. Five months later the handbook was distributed. A two-week orientation program, consisting of the distribution and promotion of the problem-oriented, pocket-sized handbook of appropriate antimicrobial therapy, was conducted. The handbook, which was developed by the authors and reviewed and approved by a panel of infectious disease specialists, presented guidelines for appropriate and efficacious usage of antimicrobial agents as most currently accepted in common clinical infections. Subsequent surveys were then conducted two weeks, three months, and six months after distribution of the handbook. A statistically significant difference (p <0.01) in antimicrobial prescribing patterns was noted between the survey conducted two weeks after the introduction of the handbook and the other surveys. In this survey, while therapy classified inappropriate decreased from 45% to 28%, therapy considered appropriate as recommended increased from 33% to 53%. The findings of this study demonstrated that the introduction and promotion of the handbook decreased abuse and increased proper use of antimicrobial therapy, although the effect is sustainable for only a short duration—no longer than three months. These results indicate the need for a vigorous, updated program to achieve and maintain current appropriate antibiotic therapy in clinical medicine.

The influence of osteopathic correction on the rate of various rhythms of the body

Russian Osteopathic Journal ◽

10.32885/2220-0975-2019-1-2-64-71 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 64-71 ◽

Author(s):

A. E. Chernikova ◽

Yu. P. Potekhina

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Respiratory Rate ◽

Age Groups ◽

Biomechanical Properties ◽

Dispersion Analysis ◽

The Body ◽

Body Tissues ◽

Age Related ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After

Introduction. An osteopathic examination determines the rate, the amplitude and the strength of the main rhythms (cardiac, respiratory and cranial). However, there are relatively few studies in the available literature dedicated to the influence of osteopathic correction (OC) on the characteristics of these rhythms.Goal of research — to study the influence of OC on the rate characteristics of various rhythms of the human body.Materials and methods. 88 adult osteopathic patients aged from 18 to 81 years were examined, among them 30 men and 58 women. All patients received general osteopathic examination. The rate of the cranial rhythm (RCR), respiratory rate (RR) heart rate (HR), the mobility of the nervous processes (MNP) and the connective tissue mobility (CTM) were assessed before and after the OC session.Results. Since age varied greatly in the examined group, a correlation analysis of age-related changes of the assessed rhythms was carried out. Only the CTM correlated with age (r=–0,28; p<0,05) in a statistically significant way. The rank dispersion analysis of Kruskal–Wallis also showed statistically significant difference in this indicator in different age groups (p=0,043). With the increase of years, the CTM decreases gradually. After the OC, the CTM, increased in a statistically significant way (p<0,0001). The RCR varied from 5 to 12 cycles/min in the examined group, which corresponded to the norm. After the OC, the RCR has increased in a statistically significant way (p<0,0001), the MNP has also increased (p<0,0001). The initial heart rate in the subjects varied from 56 to 94 beats/min, and in 15 % it exceeded the norm. After the OC the heart rate corresponded to the norm in all patients. The heart rate and the respiratory rate significantly decreased after the OC (р<0,0001).Conclusion. The described biorhythm changes after the OC session may be indicative of the improvement of the nervous regulation, of the normalization of the autonomic balance, of the improvement of the biomechanical properties of body tissues and of the increase of their mobility. The assessed parameters can be measured quickly without any additional equipment and can be used in order to study the results of the OC.

Melatih Kepemimpinan Perangkat Desa Kebonharjo Kulonprogo: Membangun Sikap Anti Korupsi

Proceeding of Community Development ◽

10.30874/comdev.2017.16 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 107

Author(s):

Adi Heryadi ◽

Evianawati Evianawati

Keyword(s):

Transformational Leadership ◽

Data Collection ◽

Paired Samples ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After ◽

Post Test ◽

Sample Test ◽

Corruption Perception ◽

Measuring Tool

This study aims to prove whether transformational leadership training is effective for building anti-corruption attitudes of villages in Kebonharjo village, subdistrict Samigaluh Kulonprogo. This research is an experimental research with one group pre and posttest design.Subject design is 17 people from village of 21 candidates registered. Measuring tool used in this research is the scale of anti-corruption perception made by the researcher referring to the 9 anti-corruption values with the value of reliability coefficient of 0.871. The module used as an intervention made by the researcher refers to the transformational leadership dimension (Bass, 1990). The data collected is analyzed by statistical analysis of different test Paired Sample Test. Initial data collection results obtained sign value of 0.770 which means> 0.05 or no significant difference between anti-corruption perception score between before and after training. After a period of less than 1 (one) month then conducted again the measurement of follow-up of the study subjects in the measurement again using the scale of anti-corruption perception. The results of the second data collection were analysed with Paired Samples Test and obtained the value of 0.623 sign meaning p> 0.05 or no significant difference between post test data with follow-up data so that the hypothesis of this study was rejected.