This paper presents a brief case study, that was conducted to determine whether lurking is related to a specific topic or not. It is based on a short online survey which was made available on the internet for a period of 14 days. The results of this study may lead to a better understanding of lurking, why there are so many lurkers and why lurking should not be seen in such a negative way any more.
Table of Contents
- Abstract
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Background
- 2.1 Communication in Online Communities
- 2.2 Concept of communication
- 2.3 Is a lurker a lurker in any case?
- 3. Method
- 4. Results
- 4.1 All
- 4.2 Opinion Leaders
- 4.3 Lurkers
- 4.4 Opinion Leaders vs. Lurkers
- 4.5 Both
- 5. Conclusion
- 6. Bibliography
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper explores the phenomenon of lurking in online communities, specifically investigating whether lurking is a fixed personality trait or a characteristic related to specific topics. Through a brief case study involving an online survey, the research aims to contribute to a better understanding of lurking behavior and its prevalence. The study aims to challenge the negative perception of lurking and promote a more nuanced understanding of its role in online communities.
- The nature of lurking in online communities and its prevalence
- The relationship between lurking and specific topics or interests
- The role of opinion leaders in online communication and their impact on lurking behavior
- Communication dynamics in online communities and the role of both active and passive participants
- The influence of personal needs and information seeking on lurking behavior
Chapter Summaries
The introductory chapter sets the stage by defining the concept of lurking in online communities and highlighting the significance of understanding this phenomenon. The paper delves into the background of communication in online communities, exploring different forms of communication, the concept of social groups, and the specific characteristics of online communities. The methodology employed in the case study is explained in detail, outlining the research design and data collection methods. The results chapter analyzes the findings of the survey, examining the different categories of participants (all, opinion leaders, lurkers, etc.) and their respective behaviors. The paper concludes by summarizing the findings and discussing their implications for understanding lurking in online communities.
Keywords
The main keywords and focus topics of the paper are: lurking, online communities, communication, opinion leaders, social groups, case study, survey, information seeking, personal needs, communication dynamics, participant behavior, and online community dynamics.
- Quote paper
- Tina Rupp (Author), 2003, Is a lurker always lurking?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/91769
