Information exchange in virtual communities: a typology
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TL;DR
A foundation is developed for a model of information exchange in virtual communities, and a typology of the varieties of information behaviour to be found invirtual communities is proposed, which will provide a mechanism for assessing the characteristics of virtual communities in terms of their support for information exchange.
Abstract
While there is wide agreement that virtual communities - and other phenomena utilizing CMC technologies - have the capability to provide both interpersonal and informational interactions, the degree to which they can be seen as specifically information-oriented social spaces has been open to some question. Drawing upon theoretical and empirical work that emphasizes an environmental model of human information behaviour, a foundation is developed for a model of information exchange in virtual communities, and a typology of the varieties of information behaviour to be found in virtual communities is proposed. This typology will provide a mechanism for assessing the characteristics of virtual communities in terms of their support for information exchange, and has the potential to enhance our understanding of virtual communities as information environments.