CALL FOR PAPERS FOR PhD-STUDENTS AND JUNIOR RESEARCHERS IN THE EU QMSS-2 2008 Workshop »Communication Networks on the Web« Sponsored by the European Science Foundation Date: 18 – 19 December 2008 Location: University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam School of Communications Research, Kloveniersburgwal 48, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Goal: The intensive use of new information and communication technologies, especially the web, by individuals and social actors generally has tremendously increased the availability of data and opportunities for data processing and analysis. This seminar will stress the value of taking appropriate theoretical perspectives and using appropriate analytic strategies in the study of (computer mediated) communication networks. The seminar will bring together leading researchers and young scientists from a range of disciplines to share knowledge and produce synergies that will define the research field. Themes: Main topics of the workshop 1. Communication networks on the web as a theoretical and methodological challenge - conceptualization of communication processes on the web - possibilities and problems of theoretically informed social network analysis 2. Social structures on the web - emergence of social structures in communication networks on the web - interactional and community dynamics - social roles, collective action 3. Dynamics of communication on the web - structure of citation and collaboration ties - structure of content - combination of two approaches 4. Measuring and collecting data for communication networks on the web - methodologies for analyzing communication networks on the web - collecting, parsing, coding data - identification of actors and identification of content Format: The workshop is organized as follows. For each of the main topics, a prominent researcher delivers an invited lecture. The junior participants present their papers, which are commented upon by the invited speakers, followed by a discussion with the other participants. The papers will be distributed to the participants before the start of the workshop. Altogether, the workshop will host 4 invited speakers and a maximum of 20 junior presenters. Invited speakers Prof. Noshir Contractor, Northwestern University, USA. Prof. Loet Leydesdorff, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Prof. Mike Thelwall, University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. Howard Welser PhD, Ohio University, USA. Submission: Papers specifying a research design or presenting (preliminary) results by postgraduate students or junior researchers addressing the above topics are invited. In addition to a presentation, active participation in the discussions is expected. An extended abstract of the paper is required for submission. All papers should be prepared in electronic form. Detailed submission directions will be available at QMSS-2 web site http://www.ccsr.ac.uk/qmss/seminars/2008-social/index.shtml. Extended abstracts must be written in English and should be between 1,000 – 1,500 words. Notification of acceptance will be given by October 15. Important dates: September 1: Deadline for submission of the extended abstracts October 15: Authors of accepted papers are notified December 1: Submission of full papers (app. 4000 words) Please send your abstract to Wouter de Nooy (w.denooy@uva.nl) and Gregor Petrič (gregor.petric@fdv.uni-lj.si). Travel and accommodation: Participants' travel and accommodation expenses will be covered by the QMSS 2 programme, provided that they come from or are working in one of the 17 countries who support QMSS 2. To check eligibility, see http://www.ccsr.ac.uk/qmss/countries/. Language: The official language of the workshop will be English. Organizers: Dr. Gregor Petrič, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Dr. Wouter de Nooy, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The European Science Foundation (ESF) provides a platform for its Member Organisations to advance European research and explore new directions for research at the European level. Established in 1974 as an independent non-governmental organisation, the ESF currently serves 75 Member Organisations across 30 countries.