Dear Geert, I conducted an analysis of mailing lists that includes an analysis of their internal dynamics, although it is not a case study, but rather a large-scale analysis of a variety of academic mailing lists. Two papers might be of interest to you: *Matzat U. (accepted for publication). "Academic Communication and Internet Discussion Groups: Transfer of Information or Creation of Social Contacts?" in: Social Networks see http://www.ppsw.rug.nl/~matzat/2000b.htm for the abstract *Matzat, U. (1998). "Academic Communication and Active Participation in Internet Discussion Groups: Different Models of the Collective Good Problem." Unpublished manuscript, University of Groningen. see http://www.ppsw.rug.nl/~matzat/1998c.htm The second paper is about the internal dynamics, whereas the first one is about some outcomes of mailing list use. The results belonging to the second paper can be found in my Ph.D. thesis on "Social Networks and Cooperation in Electronic Commuities" which is also online available at http://www.ub.rug.nl/eldoc/dis/ppsw/u.matzat/ regards, Uwe Matzat
Message: 5 From: geert lovink <geert@desk.nl> To: air-l@aoir.org Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 12:23:21 +1000 Subject: [Air-l] case studies of mailinglists Reply-To: air-l@aoir.org
Dear Air-l,
for my PhD at the University of Melbourne I have recently written a few case studies of mailinglist communities. Now I am winding up this project and for the introduction and conclusion I would like to refer to a few similar case studies, but I can't find all that many of them. Does anyone have a suggestion? It could be studies about virtual communities but that's perhaps a bit too broad. I am in particularly interested in internal dynamics and issues of sustainability. Any reference is most welcome.
BTW. I do like the (new) afterword Howard Rheingold wrote for his Virtual Community book which MIT Press reprinted recently. I am not sure how welknown this text is. It's a good and honest reassessment of his passions.
Yours,
Geert Lovink (Sydney)
################################################################### U. Matzat Sozialwissenschaftliches Institut / Social Science Institute Heinrich-Heine-Universitaet Duesseldorf / University of Duesseldorf Universitaetsstr. 1 40225 Duesseldorf Germany email: matzat@uni-duesseldorf.de http:/www.uni-duesseldorf.de/~matzat #########################################################