Establishing and maintaining an online community of academics: longitudinal evaluation of a virtual conference series
by Andrew Thatcher, Leon Straker, Clare Pollock
International Journal of Web Based Communities (IJWBC), Vol. 7, No. 1, 2011

Abstract: Initiated in 1996, the CybErg international conference series is the only online conference series in the field of ergonomics. Using virtual settlement theory and a model of online community evolution, this article reports on a 12-year longitudinal investigation of the five conferences in the conference series and whether they have been effective in establishing an online academic community and in internationalising the dissemination of knowledge and dialogue of this online community. The results suggest that the conference series is indeed a good example of an online community in an engaged state and has been largely successful in encouraging equality in the international distribution of contributors. This article concludes with new possibilities to enhance the conduct, knowledge production, dialogue, and processes of future online academic conferences.

Online publication date: Sun, 11-Jan-2015

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Web Based Communities (IJWBC):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com