January 2002 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

(no subject)
by davidsosebee 28 Jan '02

28 Jan '02

I would like to post to the list. Thank you.

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RE: [Air-l]Answers'Studying newsgroups'
by Joao Vieira da Cunha 28 Jan '02

28 Jan '02

A few people asked me to share the answers to my question on newsgroup analysis, so here they go (although these are more questions than answers): 1. Several people shared links to Network analysis software, I have used this software for email but I still have to find an useful way to use it on newsgroups because most of the postings are to the group as a whole. 2. Off-the-shelf qualitative data analysis: great but all of the packages from Sage can't work with more than 500 records (unless you are willing to wait 20 min to rename a document). I have 3000 (which is small as far as newsgroups go) Any suggestions Joao

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RE: [Air-l] Studying newsgroups
by FrankThomasFT＠netscape.net 28 Jan '02

28 Jan '02

Joao Vieira da Cunha <jvc(a)MIT.EDU> wrote: I tried to use NVIVO ( >a qualitative data analysis package) but 3000 documents are just to much >for it. > >Has anyone faced a similar problem and found a solution? Did you look at the site of SAGE publications ? Frank Thomas -- Dr. Frank Thomas FTR 34 rue Jean-Baptiste Pigalle 75009 Paris France __________________________________________________________________ Your favorite stores, helpful shopping tools and great gift ideas. Experience the convenience of buying online with Shop@Netscape! http://shopnow.netscape.com/ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/

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Re: [Air-l] on gauges and other technical standards
by Joao Vieira da Cunha 28 Jan '02

28 Jan '02

Allan, Perhaps you've seen this, but Wiebe Bijker's work on the social construction of technology seems to be potentially helpful to address your questions. Joao MIT/ Sloan At 11:21 PM 1/27/2002 -0500, you wrote: >Hello all, > >After reading the recent discussion on railroad gauges deriving from >ancient standards, I am curious if anyone is doing work looking into >technical standards. I'm writing my undergrad honors thesis on technical >Internet standards, and the need for public interest involvement in the >standardization process, viewing this as a subset of the "technical is >political" or "code is law" body of work. Although my thesis is >predominantly policy-oriented, I'd really like some theory to work with, >aside from market failures and civic governance. Chasing citations >back and forth has not turned up a whole lot in this area. If >anyone has any suggestions for literature that delves into examining the >larger impacts of specific technical design decisions, from any >perspective (sociology, psychology, policy, etc) I would really appreciate >it. > >Thanks for your help, >/allan > > ... et surtout||Allan Friedman > n'oubliez pas||Center for Social and Policy Studies > de tomber||Swarthmore College > amoureux||allan(a)friedmans.org > http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/~allan > >"For the umpteenth time that evening, he wished computer code responded >to threats of physical violence..." > > > >_______________________________________________ >Air-l mailing list >Air-l(a)aoir.org >http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l

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RE: [Air-l] Studying newsgroups
by Bunz, Ulla K 28 Jan '02

28 Jan '02

Joao, Here is a link http://www.analytictech.com/ for software (download version 4 for free) that allows to do network analysis on stored messages. I haven't personally used it yet, but it's been recommended to me by a colleague who is using it for her Carnegie funded project. I also have a document that goes along with the link, but it's too big to be posted to the list, so I'll send it to you directly. Hope this will help you some. ulla ************************* Ulla K. Bunz University of Kansas 102 Bailey Lawrence, KS 66045 785-864-1160 ulla(a)ukans.edu ************************* -----Original Message----- From: Joao Vieira da Cunha I have a set of messages from a newsgroup saved in html and Word format. I am trying to find a software to do content analysis.

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RE: [Air-l] Lurking
by Frank Schaap 28 Jan '02

28 Jan '02

Mike wrote: > The "Free Rider" concept suggests to me that the value of e-lists are in > their content. Rather, I would suggest, the real value of an e-list comes > from participation, thus those who are only "monitoring/lurking" are not > getting as much value from the list (feedback, recognition, networking and > so on), as those who are actively participating. I agree... but, you're also dealing with other issues of group-dynamics here, and some of them are more 'technical' than social... I mean, with this list of say, 600 subscribers, not all could post on a regular basis because that would mean too much traffic for the subscribers, exponential curves and such. The traffic on this list is rather high as it is and I don't know how others deal with it, but I have 1) too many unread messages in my Air-L folder and 2) unfortunately delete quite a lot of messages after having scanned the subject and first couple of lines of the message. I thank the many lurkers on this list for keeping the traffic in almost manageable bounds. Frank. -who will try not posting too often. -- The Cyberculture, Identity and Gender Resources ==> http://fragment.nl/resources/

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Studying newsgroups
by Joao Vieira da Cunha 28 Jan '02

28 Jan '02

Hi Everyone? I have a set of messages from a newsgroup saved in html and Word format. I am trying to find a software to do content analysis. I tried to use NVIVO ( a qualitative data analysis package) but 3000 documents are just to much for it. Has anyone faced a similar problem and found a solution? Thanks Joao PhD Student MIT Sloan School of Management

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Re: [Air-l] on gauges and other technical standards
by Frank Schaap 28 Jan '02

28 Jan '02

Allan wrote: > After reading the recent discussion on railroad gauges deriving from > ancient standards, I am curious if anyone is doing work looking into > technical standards. Not internet standards per se, but did anyone already mention the great article in the January issue of Wired about the setting of standards for the thread on screws? It's at: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/10.01/standards.html Frank. -- The Cyberculture, Identity and Gender Resources ==> http://fragment.nl/resources/

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Re: [Air-l] Defining Versions of Reality
by Frank Schaap 28 Jan '02

28 Jan '02

Steve asked: > I am struggling with the definition of reality in some of the online > community articles I have read. They seem to make a distinction between > physical and virtual communities, sometimes pulling in "imagined > communities" but fail to really discuss the perception of reality from > the point of view from the individual. Jeremy already mentioned "Imagined Communities", which is by Benedict Anderson btw. One of the articles I've found most useful in class to discuss 'levels of reality or virtuality' with respect to online communities is: Fernback, Jan (1999) "There is a there there. Notes towards a definition of cybercommunity." In: Jones, Steve (ed.) _Doing internet research. Critical issues and methods for examining the net._ London: Sage Publications. Fernback helpfully starts with a quick overview of historical thinking about the concept of community, eventually discussing the symbolic approach to community (Cohen, Anderson) and extrapolating that line of thinking to online communities. Below's one quote from the article that I like to use in class because it allows to discuss various aspects of online community and the social constructedness of reality: "Reality is socially constructed, and as Cohen (1985) and Anderson (1983) assert, community exists in the minds of participants; it exists because its participants define it and give it meaning." (p. 213) But, as you say, from the point of the individual we seem to lack some theorizing, so I usually confront the class with the following, modified, version: Reality is socially constructed, and as Cohen (1985) and Anderson (1983) assert, community exists in the minds of participants; it exists because its participants define it and give it meaning[, and because they act like it is there (FS)]. And this then allows for discussion of what, besides shared symbols with individually attached meanings (Cohen), would constitute community and which aspects you can find in various online settings and what an individual should know, believe or do to be part of that. Anyway... HTH, Frank. -- The Cyberculture, Identity and Gender Resources ==> http://fragment.nl/resources/

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EXECUTIVE ORDER NULLIFICATION LEGISLATION
by Ken Friedman 28 Jan '02

28 Jan '02

Friends, I know that some of you are concerned with the inappropriate and chilling effect of George Bush's executive order denying access to presidential records. There is strong bipartisan sentiment in Congress on this issue, and there is likely to be a law that will overturn the order. You can make a difference to the future of this legislation by contacting your Congressman or Congresswoman by phone or by letter. (Don't bother with email. Representatives don't read their email.) This is not an issue of partisan engagement, but an issue of public and scholarly access to national records. Best regards, Ken Friedman 3. 2nd NOTICE -- NCC ACTION ITEM: EXECUTIVE ORDER NULLIFICATION LEGISLATION A reprinting of this important message posted last week. If you haven't taken action, please do so today. In addition to the lawsuit filed by the Public Citizen that challenges provisions of President Bush's recent Executive Order 13233 relating to implementation of the Presidential Records Act (see "Lawsuit Challenges Bush Presidential Records Executive Order" in "NCC WASHINGTON UPDATE, Vol. 7, #48, November 29, 2001), Congress now is initiating its own action to nullify the executive order. Last November, the House Subcommittee on Government Efficiency, Financial Management and Intergovernmental Relations conducted an oversight hearing entitled, The Implementation of the Presidential Records Act of 1978 (see "Reagan Papers/New Executive Order - Topics of Congressional Hearing" in NCC WASHINGTON UPDATE, Vol. 7, #46, November 9, 2001). During the hearing it became apparent that both Republicans and Democrats were critical of the presidential order. In December, a number of interested parties met with minority Democratic Committee staff to discuss possible legislation that would overturn the E.O. Given the strong bi-partisan concern over E.O. 13233 and its draconian effects, it seemed plausible that a bi-partisan legislative effort could be successful. After consultation with majority staff, it was agreed to postpone introduction of legislation until the full Committee on Government Reform holds a hearing on the issue. That hearing - designed to give the issue more visibility and prominence - is expected to take place in the near future. To this end, the two key legislative players, Committee Chair Dan Burton (R-IN) and ranking Democrat Henry Waxman (D-CA) have agreed that they will introduce legislation - the Access to Presidential Records Act - at the hearing or shortly thereafter. The legislation will be simple and straightforward and will state that President Bush's Executive Order 13233 shall have no force or effect. With Congress now swinging into action, YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! It is NOW time for the historical and archival community to TAKE ACTION. Please contact your members of Congress and encourage them to be "original cosponsors" of the Burton/Waxman legislation. A simple phone call to the member of the House of Representatives that represents you will do: the Capitol switchboard telephone number is (202) 224-3121. The message you need to communicate is simple: Request that your Representative become an original co-sponsor of Congressman Dan Burton and Henry Waxman's "Access to Presidential Records Act." Request that your Representative write you a letter in response to your request. Our goal is to see the legislation introduced with well over 100 House members as co-sponsors - the higher the number, the stronger the message will be to the Bush Administration. PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY!

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