June 2006 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

overstated media inference from fine study
by Barry Wellman 24 Jun '06

24 Jun '06

Re the Washington Post story below (and a similar USA Today story): To my mind, it's an interesting case of media distortion. The good news: the accounts are based on a high-quality survey (US General Social Survey) by first-class reseachers (Lynn Smith-Lovin & Miller McPherson) + Matthew Brashaers whom I don't know, in sociology's leading journal, American Sociological Review. I was a referee on this paper, btw, and revealed myself at appropriate time to the authors. The study replicates one stimulus Q from the General Social Survey 20 years ago about who do you have to discuss important matters with. It finds a mean of about 2 in 2004, down from 3 in 1984 (or was it 1985)? Here's the problem: Based on this, the 2 newspapers have created a huge social isolation spin on this, when it's well known that people have lotsa ties, not just 2 or 3. See our data from Pew Internet, Connected Lives study) + lotsa others. Indeed, altho we are not as parallel as the US GSS, comparing Connected Lives (3rd East York study, 2004) with the second East York study (1979 data) shows more active ties now, both intimate and significant ties. Thus the media spin is a huge inferential leap from a decline in the super-core ties to saying Americans are socially isolated. If you read further in the Washington Post and USA Today articles, you'll see me quoted as suggesting that we now have more ties -- and more contact with ties -- but that relationships are differentiated. In other words, the relative decline in discussion partners shouldn't be generalized to either absolute isolation or even growing isolation. Of course, YMMV. _____________________________________________________________________ Barry Wellman Professor of Sociology NetLab Director wellman at chass.utoronto.ca http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~wellman Centre for Urban & Community Studies University of Toronto 455 Spadina Avenue Toronto Canada M5S 2G8 fax:+1-416-978-7162 Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2006 13:56:00 -0400 From: Richard Forno <rforno(a)infowarrior.org> Subject: [Air-l] Americans and social isolation It would be interesting to see how this fits into the whole "being alone together" argument within a technology context....for example, someone who doesn't want to be around people but who socializes happily in a MMORPG environment or spends hours upon hours on AIM or IRC. Social Isolation Growing in U.S., Study Says The Number of People Who Say They Have No One to Confide In Has Risen By Shankar Vedantam Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, June 23, 2006; A03 Americans are far more socially isolated today than they were two decades ago, and a sharply growing number of people say they have no one in whom they can confide, according to a comprehensive new evaluation of the decline of social ties in the United States. A quarter of Americans say they have no one with whom they can discuss personal troubles, more than double the number who were similarly isolated in 1985. Overall, the number of people Americans have in their closest circle of confidants has dropped from around three to about two. The comprehensive new study paints a sobering picture of an increasingly fragmented America, where intimate social ties -- once seen as an integral part of daily life and associated with a host of psychological and civic benefits -- are shrinking or nonexistent. In bad times, far more people appear to suffer alone. --- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/22/AR2006062201 763_pf.html

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Reminder: CFP: Identity and Identification in a Networked World
by Michael Zimmer 23 Jun '06

23 Jun '06

Reminder, submission deadline approaching... CALL FOR PAPERS Identity and Identification in a Networked World: A Multidisciplinary Graduate Student Symposium When: September 29-30, 2006 Where: New York University Submission deadline: July 5, 2006 More information here: http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/dcc/Home/identity.php ----- Michael T. Zimmer Doctoral Candidate, Culture and Communication, New York University Student Fellow, Information Law Institute, NYU Law School e: michael.zimmer(a)nyu.edu w: http://michaelzimmer.org

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The Internet Research Annual
by Matthew Allen 22 Jun '06

22 Jun '06

Dear air-list Previously, AoIR has, in association with the scholarly publishers Peter Lang, published each year the Internet Research Annual, which contained selected papers drawn from AoIR conferences. Three volumes have been published and a fourth will be available later this year. The most recent edition is here: http://www.peterlang.com/index.cfm?vID=67856&vLang=E&vHR=1&vUR=3&vUUR=4 Following discussions between the Executive and Peter Lang, it has been agreed by both parties that the fourth edition of the annual (2006) will be the last. AoIR and Lang are engaged in continuing discussions about mutually beneficial publishing ventures At the upcoming AoIR conference, the Association AGM will include discussion about how best AoIR might proceed in bringing the work of its members to a wider scholarly audience through innovative online publishing activities. At this time, I wish to thank Steve Jones, who helped get the annual published in the first place, Mia Consalvo who, as series editor, played a major role in getting all four IR Annuals published, the individual annual editors, and contributors. Their work has advanced the overall state of internet research. Dr Matthew Allen Associate Professor Internet Studies Curtin University of Technology, CRICOS 00301J Australia m.allen(a)curtin.edu.au http://smi.curtin.edu.au/netstudies/allen.htm <https://email.curtin.edu.au/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://smi.curtin.edu…> +61 8 92663511 (v) +61 8 9266 3166 (f) President, Association of Internet Researchers http://www.aoir.org <https://email.curtin.edu.au/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.aoir.org/>

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The Education Summit - Conference correction
by Dr. W. Reid Cornwell 21 Jun '06

21 Jun '06

All AOIR members are invited to apply for an Invitation to the Education Summit. Our board will decide who is granted and invitation. We will try to balance attendance to include 1/3 from each occupational group. (education, business, and public policy). Ellis Goddard was kind enough to point out the error in how I wrote the previous announcement. Thanks! Ellis October 2 - 4 2006 Vail Cascades Resort 1300 Westhaven Dr. Vail, Colorado 81657 The Education Summit - The Future of American Competitiveness Http://education-2006.org <http://education-2006.org/> One of the most important events of the year, Education Summit 2006 is an invitation-only conference bringing together 200 of the best and brightest leaders in Business, Education and Government to formulate a new direction for the education system. Education Summit 2006 is the first of five annual conferences organized to capture the collective will and intelligence of Leaders who can set the pace for innovation vital to our national interest in education. The agenda is designed to facilitate a realistic appraisal of the current education system; a review of what current and near-future assets, innovations, research, policies and methodologies are available for reform; and the construction of a forward-thinking plan based on the best available quantitative and qualitative information our nationally-recognized panelists and participants can provide. While the goals of the Summit are ambitious, there will also be ample time for fun, networking and enjoyment of the beauty of Vail, Colorado at the peak of Fall color. Come join us October 2 - 4 in Vail. If you are interest in attending click here: http://education-2006.org/request.cfm or call me at the > number below _____ Dr. W. Reid Cornwell The Center For Internet Research P.O. Box 6369 Breckenridge, CO 720.212.0719 (phone) 970.485.5109 (mobile) <mailto:wrc@tcfir.org> wrc(a)tcfir.org http://tcfir.org

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special disability & ICTs issue
by Gerard Goggin 21 Jun '06

21 Jun '06

Just out - including some great papers by AoIR members ... gg 'Disability, Identity, and Interdependence: ICTs and New Social Forms', special issue of 'Information, Communication & Society' (9.3, June 2006) edited by Gerard Goggin, University of Sydney, and Christopher Newell, University of Tasmania Now available on the journalsonline.tandf.co.uk web site at http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk <http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/link.asp?id=N377R026510V>. Featured article: Introduction <http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/link.asp?id=L5X44237000140LU> p. 283 Brian D. Loader Conquering the minds, conquering Iraq: The social production of misinformation in the United States – a case study <http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/link.asp?id=W573W2W0643358QG> p. 284 Amelia Arsenault, Manuel Castells Editorial comment: Disability, identity, and interdependence: ICTs and new social forms <http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/link.asp?id=N5435G83R6377243> p. 309 Gerard Goggin, Christopher Newell The disability divide in internet access and use <http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/link.asp?id=HM468763R067722M> p. 313 Kerry Dobransky, Eszter Hargittai The critical space between: Access, inclusion and standards in information technologies <http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/link.asp?id=M750605K074126MQ> p. 335 Deborah Stienstra Public space as ‘context’ in assistive information and communication technologies for people with cognitive impairment <http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/link.asp?id=H628424M41215356> p. 355 Barbara Adkins, Dianne Smith, Karen Barnett, Eryn Grant Disability and the promises of technology: Technology, subjectivity and embodiment within an order of the normal <http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/link.asp?id=X47571G22554557M> p. 373 Ingunn Moser Where do you want to sit today? Computer programmers' static bodies and disability <http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/link.asp?id=V553633HN72L34U6> p. 396 Michele White //////////////////////////////////////// Dr Gerard Goggin ARC Australian Research Fellow Editor, 'Media International Australia' Department of Media and Communications The University of Sydney NSW 2006 e-mail: gerard.goggin(a)arts.usyd.edu.au p: +61 2 9036 6424 f: 61 2 9351 5444 m: 0428 66 88 24 http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/media/?page=staff&id=gerard.goggin

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The Education Summit - The Future of American Competitiveness
by Dr. W. Reid Cornwell 20 Jun '06

20 Jun '06

All AOIR members are invited to attend The Education Summit October 2 - 4 2006 Vail Cascades Resort 1300 Westhaven Dr. Vail, Colorado 81657 One of the most important events of the year, Education Summit 2006 is an invitation-only conference bringing together 200 of the best and brightest leaders in Business, Education and Government to formulate a new direction for the education system. Education Summit 2006 is the first of five annual conferences organized to capture the collective will and intelligence of Leaders who can set the pace for innovation vital to our national interest in education. The agenda is designed to facilitate a realistic appraisal of the current education system; a review of what current and near-future assets, innovations, research, policies and methodologies are available for reform; and the construction of a forward-thinking plan based on the best available quantitative and qualitative information our nationally-recognized panelists and participants can provide. While the goals of the Summit are ambitious, there will also be ample time for fun, networking and enjoyment of the beauty of Vail, Colorado at the peak of Fall color. Come join us October 2 - 4 in Vail. If you are interest in attending click here: http://education-2006.org/request.cfm or call me at the number below _____ Dr. W. Reid Cornwell The Center For Internet Research P.O. Box 6369 Breckenridge, CO 720.212.0719 (phone) 970.485.5109 (mobile) <mailto:wrc@tcfir.org> wrc(a)tcfir.org http://tcfir.org

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Neighborhood Forums, Baltimore example?
by Steven Clift 20 Jun '06

20 Jun '06

I am putting together an "e-citizens" panel for the International e-Participation and Local Democracy Symposium - Baltimore on August 3, 2006. I'd like to invite a local Baltimore neighborhood activist involved a very active online forum/e-list. Please send suggestions to: clift(a)publicus.net In related news, E-Democracy.Org received a planning grant to develop a proposal for online neighborhood forums in Minneapolis. Here are some example forums we are learning from: http://www.e-democracy.org/wiki/Example_neighborhood_forums If you know of other good examples or research resources, please add them to the wiki page. For details on our planning process, see: http://www.e-democracy.org/wiki/Minneapolis_neighborhood_forums Cheers, Steven Clift Board Chair, E-Democracy.Org . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steven Clift - clift(a)publicus.net Web: http://publicus.net Blog: http://dowire.org/notes NGO: http://e-democracy.org Replies to slc@ may be missed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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"The Automated Wal-Mart- A Thought Experiment"- Request for commentaries.
by Sandeep Krishnamurthy 20 Jun '06

20 Jun '06

Dear List Members, Some of you may be interested in an online thought experiment I am conducting titled- "The Automated Wal-Mart- A Thought Experiment". If you find the title intriguing, do check out- http://faculty.washington.edu/sandeep/automated or http://tinyurl.com/peoq8 I am currently soliciting short commentaries. I will post all entries on the site (unless they are incoherent beyond recognition). Hope to hear from you at sandeep(a)u.washington.edu. Thanks. Sandeep Krishnamurthy http://faculty.washington.edu/sandeep

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PhD Students - Institute of Communications Studies, University of Leeds
by Stephen Coleman 19 Jun '06

19 Jun '06

The Institute of Communications Studies at the University of Leeds is offering a fee-paid PhD studentship to conduct research in the area of the Internet and democracy under the supervision of Professor Stephen Coleman. The award will include full fees at the home/EU rate. Awards will be for three years, renewable annually subject to satisfactory progress. The selected candidate will be expected to live and work in Leeds and to accept a reasonable amount of teaching, research assistance or administrative work within the Institute. Additional payment will be made for such work on an hourly basis. Please apply by email to Professor Coleman (s.coleman(a)leeds.ac.uk) attaching a full CV, research proposal and covering letter. Applicants should be UK/EU nationals.

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web2.0 and civic engagement
by Kate Raynes-Goldie 19 Jun '06

19 Jun '06

Hello aoir-ers! I'm co-authoring a book chapter on the challenges and benefits of youth civic engagement using web2.0 technologies.. Basically the idea is that youth are increasingly expecting their online tools to be interoperable (ie that your flickr badge will plug into your blogger account)... This poses challenges for closed online communities (especially those focused around youth engagement, such as youthnoise and takingitglobal) who want to stay relevant by using the most up to date technologies but also don't want to potentially give up power or users by allowing integration with other services, or even using other services as replacements for their own (ie using flickr as a photogallery rather than building your own proprietary gallery) Does anyone have any relevant materials we could use to discuss any of these issues? I'm also curious what all your thoughts are! Thanks Kate

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