Online interaction turns the congeniality bias into an uncongeniality bias

Online phenomena like echo chambers and belief polarisation are believed to be driven by humans’ penchant to selectively expose themselves to attitudinally congenial content. However, if like-minded content were the only predictor of online behaviour, heated debate and flaming on the Internet would hardly occur. Research has overlooked how online behaviour changes when people are given an opportunity to reply to dissenters, potentially turning a preference for attitudinally congenial information into a preference for uncongenial information. Three main experiments consistently show that in a discussion forum setting where users can respond to earlier posts, larger conflict between user attitude and post attitude predicts higher likelihood to respond. The effect of conflict on response behaviour is shaped by the attitudinal composition of the forum, and it also predicts subsequent polarisation of users’ attitudes. These results suggest that belief polarisation on social media can be driven by conflict rather than congeniality.

A Methodological Study on Online Discussion Forum

The Online Discussion Forum system can be used for any sort of discussion. It is a web-based application. The goal of this system is to allow users to connect with each other online and to provide new users with discussion services. It enables users to sign up for our website. A registered user can create new posts and respond to existing ones. The current study uses two primary concepts to support the system at two distinct ends termed the front end and the back end to completely automate the Online Discussion Forum, removing all of the constraints of the manually managed Online Discussion Forum. The front end will be Visual Studio 2010 / ASP.NET, and the back end will be SQL SERVER 8. Other tools utilized in this research are Ajax Toolkit and Jquery. A more accurate system is created in the present study to reduce the manual efforts to achieve easy access to the required information.

Co-designing genomics research with a large group of donor-conceived siblings

Background Human genomics research is growing rapidly. More effective methods are required for co-design and involving people, especially those sub-populations which are inherently high interest to medical research and thus at greater risk of being exploited. This case study documents how we worked with a large group of donor-conceived siblings who share the same sperm donor father, to explore how they might want to engage with and influence any future genomic research. Method A participatory action research process was used to explore the views of a group of 18 people who knew they are donor-conceived siblings. They are part of a larger group of up to 1000 people who share the same sperm donor father but the only ones in contact with each other; it is likely that many of the uncontacted siblings are unaware of their biological father, have been unable to trace others or have died. The discussion explored views about how the group would like to be involved in future research. Five members participated in co-design; 12 completed a pre-discussion online survey; and six participated in an online discussion forum and evaluation survey. The online discussion was led by one facilitator, supported by the study team. Results Of the 18 siblings approached in 2018, 14 participated in the co-design stages or the surveys and online discussion. Co-design informed the research process. Participants reported enjoying the overall experience of the surveys and discussion forum, which were perceived as inclusive and flexible. Most participants’ views regarding the value of involvement in research changed during the process, and ‘widened’ about who should be involved. Participants were supportive of future research being done with the siblings group. All who completed the final survey requested to remain part of the co-design process. Other themes in the online discussion included concerns about conflicting interests and a desire for research participation to improve the situation for people affected by assisted conception. The process informed later discussions in the sibling group about participating in a self-managed biobank and informed decision making about participating in genomics research. Conclusion Findings from this study help inform ways in which people from certain sub-populations can be involved in planning and defining their participation in genomic research, particularly those that are inherently high interest to medical research and thus at greater risk of exploitation. This process provides a replicable method of involving potential participants in co-designing genomics research using online discussions, with positive outcomes. Reporting this study using ‘Standardised data on initiatives (STARDIT)’ to report the process allows comparison with other studies.

“You Have No Story, Yet!” The Role of the Online Community in Shaping Women’s ‘My Stories’ About the Journey to Motherhood

This article offers a folkloristic analysis of telling personal experience stories in the Estonian Midwives Association’s Family School discussion forum (www.perekool.ee), focusing on the Conception, Pregnancy and Childbirth sub-forums. In the article women’s My Stories about their journey to motherhood are under discussion. The central question is how the practice of telling these stories is shaped and affected by the peculiarities of the online community, its communication space, traditions, and daily operation. The article seeks to answer this question in relation to the following topics: accepted and non-accepted topics and experiences; the message of the stories; the structure of the stories; vocabulary competence; and the style of storytelling. From the theoretical perspective, the focus is on participatory storytelling, that is, on the interplay of the specific online environment, narrator, story, and group, as well as the process by which the teller and the audience co-create the stories.

Lesbonormatiivisuuksien ristipaineessa: määrällistä ja laadullista analyysiä Suomi24-verkkokeskusteluista

Artikkelissamme identifioimme tilastollisella avainsana-analyysillä Suomi24-keskustelufoorumilla tuotettuja lesboerityisiä diskursseja, joissa – toisin kuin homodiskursseissa – keskitytään seksuaaliseen suuntautumiseen, sukupuoleen ja ulkonäköön. Lesbodiskursseja tarkastelemme edelleen teoriavetoisen kriittisen lähiluvun avulla. Analyysi nostaa esiin keskusteluja, joissa heteronormatiivisuuden kautta määrittyvä lesbous voidaan kokea hyvinkin ristiriitaiseksi ja ahdistavaksi. Käyttämällä hyväksi lesbomatriisin ja lesbonormatiivisuuden käsitteitä osoitamme, kuinka sekä nais- että miesfeminiinistä lesboutta ja lesboparisuhteita koskevissa keskusteluissa nojataan yhtäältä normatiiviseen ajattelutapaan ja toisaalta haastetaan sitä.Avainsanat: lesbous, lesbonormatiivisuus, keskustelufoorumit, korpusavusteinen diskurssintutkimusCross pressured by lesbonormativity: Quantitative and qualitative analysis of online conversations on the Suomi24 discussion forumIn our article, we use statistical keyword analysis to identify typical lesbian discourses at the Suomi24 discussion forum. Contrary to gay discourses, they focus on sexual orientation, gender and looks. These lesbian discourses are further analyzed by critical close reading. The analysis highlights conversations in which lesbianism can feel extremely conflicting and distressing when defined in heteronormative terms. Moreover, by using the concepts of lesbian matrix and lesbonormativity, we show how discussions concerning both feminine and masculine appearing lesbians as well as lesbian relationships rely on normative thinking, while also challenging it.Keywords: lesbianism, lesbonormativity, discussion forums, corpus-assisted discourse studies

MS JobSeek: A pilot randomized controlled trial of an online peer discussion forum for job-seekers with multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Peer-facilitated interventions have been successfully used in chronic disease management. Less is known about their application in vocational rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: To pilot-test an online peer discussion forum to improve exploration of employment options in job-seekers with long-term multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: Twenty-nine persons with relapsing/progressive MS (4–27 years since diagnosis) were recruited online and randomly assigned to an 8-week discussion forum led by peers and a moderator –MS JobSeek (n = 14), or an active control group (n = 15). Forum engagement and user satisfaction were examined, as were pre-post self-evaluations of job search behaviour, efficacy, and quality of life. RESULTS: A high (43%) attrition rate was noted, although intervention completers acknowledged and valued online mentors’ guidance and expertise. Group and time effects were not significant (p < 0.05), with both MS JobSeek and control participants reporting positive (e.g., increase in job search activities) and negative (e.g., lowered self-efficacy) change. CONCLUSIONS: The pilot findings suggest that online peer support is feasible, however more can be done to promote peer-to-peer communication. Recommendations for improving forum engagement and satisfaction in a future controlled trial, including strategies to better support mentees’ individualised needs, are offered.

Online Discussion Forum Influence on Professional Sport Fan Support: an Exploratory Study

<p>With professional sports continually attracting new supporters and these supporters increasingly using Internet technologies, questions arise about the relationship between sport fan online activities and actual fan support for a professional sport team. This paper explores the behaviours and perceptions exhibited by Yellow Fever (online fan site) members as they interact within their online discussion forum. It also studies how these interactions may influence support for the A-League franchise, the Wellington Phoenix football club. To explore and describe member interactions and opinions, the paper uses a qualitative research approach and data collected from both the forum archives as well as an online questionnaire. The research appears to show that Yellow Fever members do affect fan support for the Wellington Phoenix. It also suggests several ways in which the members can influence fan support. Despite some limitations, there are implications for sporting clubs and technology research. The study also provides a basis for further research both with sport support groups as well as other types of membership dependent organisations such as community projects, local schools and political organisations.</p>

Online Discussion Forum Influence on Professional Sport Fan Support: an Exploratory Study

<p>With professional sports continually attracting new supporters and these supporters increasingly using Internet technologies, questions arise about the relationship between sport fan online activities and actual fan support for a professional sport team. This paper explores the behaviours and perceptions exhibited by Yellow Fever (online fan site) members as they interact within their online discussion forum. It also studies how these interactions may influence support for the A-League franchise, the Wellington Phoenix football club. To explore and describe member interactions and opinions, the paper uses a qualitative research approach and data collected from both the forum archives as well as an online questionnaire. The research appears to show that Yellow Fever members do affect fan support for the Wellington Phoenix. It also suggests several ways in which the members can influence fan support. Despite some limitations, there are implications for sporting clubs and technology research. The study also provides a basis for further research both with sport support groups as well as other types of membership dependent organisations such as community projects, local schools and political organisations.</p>