A Collective-Intelligence View on the Linux Kernel Developer Community

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 20-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haoxiang Xia
Keyword(s):  
Open Source Software ◽  
Online Communities ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Collective Intelligence ◽  
Evolutionary Process ◽  
Knowledge Network ◽  
Collaboration Network ◽  
Linux Kernel ◽  
The Social

With the rapid proliferation of all sorts of online communities, the knowledge creation and dissemination in these online communities have become a prominent social phenomenon. In this paper, one typical Open Source Software community—the online community of Linux kernel developers—is studied from the perspective of collective intelligence, to explore the social dynamics behind the success of the Linux kernel project. The Linux kernel developer community is modeled as a supernetwork of triple interwoven networks, namely a technological media network, a collaboration network of the developers, and a knowledge network. The development of the LDC is then an evolutionary process through which the supernetwork expands and the collective intelligence of the community develops. In this paper, a bottom-up approach is attempted to unravel this evolutionary process.

A Collective-Intelligence View on the Linux Kernel Developer Community

2013 ◽  
pp. 188-200
Author(s):  
Haoxiang Xia
Keyword(s):  
Online Communities ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Collective Intelligence ◽  
Evolutionary Process ◽  
Knowledge Network ◽  
Collaboration Network ◽  
Social Phenomenon ◽  
Linux Kernel ◽  
The Social

With the rapid proliferation of all sorts of online communities, the knowledge creation and dissemination in these online communities have become a prominent social phenomenon. In this paper, one typical Open Source Software community—the online community of Linux kernel developers—is studied from the perspective of collective intelligence, to explore the social dynamics behind the success of the Linux kernel project. The Linux kernel developer community is modeled as a supernetwork of triple interwoven networks, namely a technological media network, a collaboration network of the developers, and a knowledge network. The development of the LDC is then an evolutionary process through which the supernetwork expands and the collective intelligence of the community develops. In this paper, a bottom-up approach is attempted to unravel this evolutionary process.

Using Social Network Analysis to Guide Theoretical Sampling in an Ethnographic Study of a Virtual Community

2011 ◽  
pp. 157-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrique Murillo
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Online Communities ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Qualitative Studies ◽  
The Social ◽  
Theoretical Sampling

Social Network Analysis (SNA) provides a range of models particularly well suited for mapping bonds between participants in online communities and thus reveal prominent members or subgroups. This can yield valuable insights for selecting a theoretical sample of participants or participant interactions in qualitative studies of communities. This chapter describes a procedure for collecting data from Usenet newsgroups, deriving the social network created by participant interaction, and importing this relational data into SNA software, where various cohesion models can be applied. The technique is exemplified by performing a longitudinal core periphery analysis of a specific newsgroup, which identified core members and provided clear evidence of a stable online community. Discussions dominated by core members are identified next, to guide theoretical sampling of text-based interactions in an ongoing ethnography of the community.

Can Social Dynamics Be Channeled from Offline to Online Communities?

2020 ◽  
pp. 275-292
Author(s):  
Sharam Alijani ◽  
Djamchid Assadi ◽  
Arvind Ashta
Keyword(s):  
Online Communities ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Group Lending ◽  
Alternative Source ◽  
Comparative Framework ◽  
The Social ◽  
Patterns Of Behavior ◽  
Organizational Requirements

As alternative source of financing, microfinance and crowdfunding organizations are increasingly relying on commitment, compliance and cooperation among individuals, groups, and communities. In considering the extraordinary growth of the market for microfunding and microlending in recent years, this article aims to investigate a number of important questions. Can the conventional rule of social collateral applied to group lending be replicated in online crowdfunding? What are the institutional, social and organizational requirements in order to transpose the social collateral model of solidarity and responsibility to heterogeneous online crowdfunding and microlending platforms? What would be the implications for borrowers and lenders in terms of group compliance, collaboration and cooperation? By highlighting the differences and similarities between microfinance and crowdfunding structures, the article seeks to provide a broad comparative framework for analyzing different patterns of behavior in communities, organizations and networks that engage in crowdfunding and microlending activities.

scholarly journals Ana's Friends. Friendship in Online Pro-Ana Communities

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natàlia Cantó-Milà ◽  
Swen Seebach
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Online Communities ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Secret Societies ◽  
The Social

The objective of this article is to analyse the social relationships within online communities of anorectics, their bonds, their emotions and friendships, and their subsequent relation to anorexia nervosa. The research has focused on their blogs and their forums, which create a space in which they share their experiences, and sometimes encourage each other not to give up on their eating disorder – which they view as an illness, but an illness that has become their lifestyle, and their attitude towards life. Within the article an analysis of the special bonds of friendship that tie the members of the online community together will be presented. Special attention will be paid to the similarities between secret societies and friendship bonds within pro-ana communities.

scholarly journals Online communities and their contribution to local heritage knowledge

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manal Ginzarly ◽  
Jacques Teller
Keyword(s):  
Online Communities ◽  
Collective Identity ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Urban Landscape ◽  
Value Judgments ◽  
Community Group ◽  
Value Judgment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tangible Assets ◽  
The Social

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the potential of social media as a framework for people-centered heritage. With a focus on the interpretation and display of heritage by online communities, this paper aims at providing insights into the social production of heritage – the social co-construction of meanings of everyday landscape and the making of the collective and local identity.Design/methodology/approachThis paper proposes a methodological roadmap for the digital ethnography of everyday heritage. It reveals (1) the fundamental principles according to which people make value judgments and associate meanings to the urban landscape, and (2) the role of online communities in conveying collective identity and heritage values within the community realm. As a case study area for the implementation of the proposed method, three Facebook community group pages for Tripoli, Lebanon were chosen. The posts and comments were translated into English and uploaded to NVivo 12 plus and a deductive thematic approach to qualitative data analysis was applied. The data was coded into three main nodes: the actors, the tangible assets and the value registers.FindingsResults show that Facebook users are concerned with environmental equality, common interests, utility, right to the city and representativeness, while the beautification of heritage is often perceived as a threat to these values.Originality/valueThis investigation goes beyond heritage attributes (what) and values (why) to examine how values are assigned by local communities. It provides a comprehensive understanding of value judgment and the rationale and arguments used to justify positions and mobilize online community members in order to contribute to the digital co-construction of everyday heritage.

Can Social Dynamics Be Channeled from Offline to Online Communities?

2016 ◽  
pp. 210-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharam Alijani ◽  
Djamchid Assadi ◽  
Arvind Ashta
Keyword(s):  
Online Communities ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Group Lending ◽  
Alternative Source ◽  
Comparative Framework ◽  
The Social ◽  
Patterns Of Behavior ◽  
Organizational Requirements

As alternative source of financing, microfinance and crowdfunding organizations are increasingly relying on commitment, compliance and cooperation among individuals, groups, and communities. In considering the extraordinary growth of the market for microfunding and microlending in recent years, this article aims to investigate a number of important questions. Can the conventional rule of social collateral applied to group lending be replicated in online crowdfunding? What are the institutional, social and organizational requirements in order to transpose the social collateral model of solidarity and responsibility to heterogeneous online crowdfunding and microlending platforms? What would be the implications for borrowers and lenders in terms of group compliance, collaboration and cooperation? By highlighting the differences and similarities between microfinance and crowdfunding structures, the article seeks to provide a broad comparative framework for analyzing different patterns of behavior in communities, organizations and networks that engage in crowdfunding and microlending activities.

Redefining Participation in Online Community

2014 ◽  
pp. 39-56
Author(s):  
Gibrán Rivera Gonzalez ◽  
Andrew Cox
Keyword(s):  
Online Communities ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Social ◽  
Static Point ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
A Current

To be sustainable, online communities must have the ability to attract and retain members, who in turn must be willing to participate by giving their time, knowledge, and effort to provide benefits to others and themselves. Yet, many studies look at participation from a static point of view and disregard different levels of participation. There is a need to redefine the concept of participation. Furthermore, many studies explaining participation in virtual communities have focused their attention on the internal characteristics of these communities neglecting the importance of the external environment such as the competition that exists between online communities and alternative media; the multiple memberships people simultaneously have in different communities/practices; the organizational and social context in which online communities exist; and the social practices online communities support. By looking at participation as an evolving process instead of as a one-time event; by giving voice to all participants of the community; and by studying the context within which communities emerge, understanding of participation can be improved. To illustrate how these topics reshape a research agenda, the authors offer examples from a current study they are undertaking shaped by these concerns. By presenting the example the authors show how awareness of the “neglected topics” identified - as sensitizing ideas - expands research method and deepens understanding of participation in online communities. A practice-based approach is suggested as a useful theoretical tool to deepen current understanding of online community participation.

scholarly journals United by Rage, Self-Loathing, and Male Supremacy: The Rise of the Incel Community

INvoke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farshad Labbaf
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Terrorist Attacks ◽  
Political Movements ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Social ◽  
Echo Chamber ◽  
Male Supremacy

Since the 1990’s the internet has fundamentally transformed social relations by giving rise to cyber-communities, which have brought new kinds of polymorphous, highly personalized, and lifestyle-oriented social groups. They have also given rise to new political movements, including extremist internet groups, that can be severely detrimental to the sustainable wellbeing of society (Delanty 2018, 200). Over the past decade, a fringe internet group known as the involuntary celibates (Incels) have developed mainstream infamy for their extreme misogynistic rhetoric and reactionary anti-feminist language, which has manifested into several terrorist attacks (Olheiser, 2018). It can be argued that Incels have developed an online community centred on the desire for society to revert to absolute patriarchy that dehumanizes women as mere sexual commodities and vehemently oppose the idea of women’s empowerment and sexual liberation (Tolentino 2018). In this paper, we will be analyzing the social dynamics and methods of communication within this fringe echo-chamber, we can better determine if the values of hate, self-loathing and misogyny can facilitate deliberation and in turn constitute the Incels as a legitimate community.

Who connects with whom? A social network analysis of an online open source software community

First Monday ◽  
2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cuihua Shen ◽  
Peter Monge
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Online Social Network ◽  
The Social ◽  
Collaboration Dynamics ◽  
The Web

By examining “who connects with whom” in an online community using social network analysis, this study tests the social drivers that shape the collaboration dynamics among a group of participants from SourceForge, the largest open source community on the Web. The formation of the online social network was explored by testing two distinct network attachment logics: strategic selection and homophily. Both logics received some support. Taken together, the results are suggestive of a “performance-based clustering” phenomenon within the OSS online community in which most collaborations involve accomplished developers, and novice developers tend to partner with less accomplished and less experienced peers.

scholarly journals Social Networking and Transnational Capitalism

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 689-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Kreps
Keyword(s):  
Social Networking ◽  
Online Communities ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
The Internet ◽  
The Social ◽  
Business As Usual ◽  
Social Behaviours

Social Networking Sites (SNS) have become a key component of users’ experience of the internet.  Whilst much has been made of the social dynamics of online SNS, the influence of the structures and operations of these sites – and the business models behind them - on users is rarely accounted for.  This paper argues that behind the social behaviours supported by SNS, there is a growing shift towards viewing online communities as commodities, and SNS as an extension of mainstream capitalist ideologies fostered by existing patterns of commercialization and consumption. Using the works of Gramsci, Gill and Hardt & Negri to provide a critical grounding, this paper explores the popular SNS site ‘Facebook’ and suggests that SNS may feel to the users to be free, social, personal, but in fact SNS are business as usual.

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