Pnina Fichman Research Collection

Permanent link for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/2022/24996

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Introduction in Social Informatics: Past, Present and Future
(Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014-01) Fichman, P.; Rosenbaum, H.
This chapter is the introduction for Social Informatics: Past, Present and Future, a collection of twelve papers that provides a state-of-the-art review of 21st century social informatics. Two papers review the history of social informatics, and show that its intellectual roots can be found in the late 1970s and early ’80s and that it emerged in several different locations around the world before it coalesced in the US in the mid-1990s. The evolution of social informatics is described under four periods: foundational work, development and expansion, a robust period of coherence, and a period of diversification that continues today. Five papers provide a view of the breadth and depth of contemporary social informatics, demonstrating the diversity of theoretical and methodological approaches that can be used. A further five papers explore the future of social informatics and offer provocative and disparate visions of its trajectory, ranging from arguments for a new philosophical grounding for social informatics, to calls for a social informatics based on practice thinking and materiality. This book presents a view of SI that emphasizes the core relationship among people, ICT and organizational and social life from a perspective that integrates aspects of social theory and demonstrates clearly that social informatics has never been a more necessary research endeavor than it is now.
Frameworks for understanding knowledge sharing in open online communities: Boundaries and boundary crossing
(Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014-01) Hara, N.; Fichman, P.
Earlier studies of Social Informatics aimed to understand Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in organizational context (Dutton 2005). In the 1970 and 1980s, ICTs were primarily developed for and used in organizations such as universities, corporations, and governments. As the price of computer devices decreased, more computers were found in private homes, and studies of personal computers were added to the corpus of SI studies (e.g., Hara and Kling 2000). Then, in the 1990s, as more and more people gained access to the Internet, SI researchers started focusing on Internet use in various settings (e.g., Kling 1996; Kling, Rosenbaum, and Sawyer 2005). In the early 21st century, there has been a surge in social media use, which has led to a wave of studies seeking insight into user relationships with social media and the consequences of these activities (e.g, Turkle 2011). In line with this trend this chapter calls for studies of knowledge sharing in the social media setting from an SI perspective.
The Evolution of Social Informatics Research (1984‐2013): Challenges and Opportunities
(Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014-01) Sanfilippo, M.; Fichman, P.
Social informatics (SI) is “the interdisciplinary study of the design, uses and consequences of information technology that takes into account their interaction with institutional and cultural contexts” (Kling 1998, p.52; 1999). SI provides flexible frameworks to explore complex and dynamic sociotechnical interactions. As a domain of study related largely by common vocabulary and conclusions, SI critically examines common conceptions of and expectations for technology, by providing contextual evidence. This chapter describes the evolution of SI research in the US and UK and identifies challenges and opportunities for future research. We divided SI research into four major periods: an early period of foundational work which grounds SI (Pre-1990s), a period of development and expansion (1990s), a robust period of coherence and influence by Rob Kling (2000-2005), and a period of diversification (2006-Present). Each of the four periods is divided into four sections: principles, concepts, approaches, and findings. Principles refer to the overarching motivations and labels employed to describe scholarly work. Approaches describe the theories, frameworks, and models employed in analysis, emphasizing the multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary nature of SI. Concepts include specific processes, entities, themes, and elements of discourse within a given context, revealing a shared SI language surrounding change, complexity, consequences, and social elements of technology. Findings from seminal SI works illustrate growing insights over time and demonstrate how repeatable explanations unify SI. In the concluding remarks, we raise questions as to the possible future expansion or extinction of SI research.
Media Selection Theory For Global Virtual Teams
(Proceedings of the 12th Americas Conference on Information Systems, 2006-08) Shachaf, P.; Hara, N.
This study proposes a behavioral complexity theory for media selection in global virtual teams. This theory captures multiple contingencies into one holistic approach. Unlike existing linear and mechanistic theories of media selection, this heuristic theory moves away from the universal models that were previously proposed. The behavioral complexity theory assumesambiguity, complexity, and a nonlinear, organic, and holistic process. This theory emphasizes the role of media repertoire,the ability of individuals to differentiate situations according to multiple contingencies, and their flexibility to effectively use multiple media in any particular situation. This theory is examined in a context of exploratory case study of global virtual teams’ media selection in one of the leading fortune 500 corporations.
Web 2.0: A Social Informatics Perspective
(Proceedings of the 13th Americas Conference on Information Systems, 2007-08) Allen, J. P.; Rosenbaum, H.; Shachaf, P.
This position paper argues that the Web 2.0 phenomenon is an important object of study for information systems research, and that a social informatics approach to understanding Web 2.0 is particularly relevant and useful. We discuss Wikipedia as an example of empirical research on Web 2.0 that can help bridge the divide between academic and popular discourse on new technology movements.
Collaborative mass knowledge production online: Cross-‐cultural comparison of variation in the communities of Wikipedians
(Society for Social Studies of Science, 2008-08) Hara, N.; Shachaf, P.
Online social reference: A research agenda through a STIN framework
(Proceedings of the 2009 iConference, 2009-02) Shachaf, P.; Rosenbaum, H.
This paper suggests a research agenda for online social reference using the Socio-Technical Interaction Network (STIN) framework [21]. It addresses the need for more research on social reference, which refers to online question asking and answering services that are provided by communities of volunteers on Q&A sites. Social reference exemplifies an interesting stage of development in two information research domains: 1) information retrieval, as it combines social input into the technological challenges; 2) reference research, as it signifies a group collaborative efforts to answer questions instead of the traditional dyadic question negotiation. The proposed research agenda draws from social informatics and suggests questions that address both the social and technological factors at work on Q&A sites.
Social reference and library reference service
(Proceedings of the 2009 IFLA Satellite Meeting on Emerging Trends in Technology, 2009-08) Shachaf, P.
Some of the fastest growing Web 2.0 segments are question-answering (Q&A) sites that involve a collaborative reference service - social reference. Social reference refers to online question answering services that are provided by communities of volunteers on Q&A sites. Because this collaborative group effort in answering question is comparable with library reference service in quality, the implementation of the social reference model to enhance reference service in library 2.0 is discussed.
Answer reliability on Q&A sites
(Proceedings of The Sixteenth Americas Conference on Information Systems, 2010-08) Shachaf, P.
Similar to other Web 2.0 platforms, user-created content on question answering (Q&A) sites raises concerns about information quality. However, it is possible that some of these sites provide accurate information while others do not. This paper evaluates and compares answer reliability on four Q&A sites. Content analysis of 1,522 transactions from Yahoo! Answers, Wiki Answers, Askville, and the Wikipedia Reference Desk, reveals significant differences in answer quality among these sites. The most popular Q&A site (that attracts the largest numbers of users, questions, and answers) provides the least accurate, complete, and verifiable information.
Managing online trolling: From deviant to social and political trolls
(IEEE Press, 2017-01) Sanfilippo, M.; Yang, S.; Fichman, P.
Trolling behaviors are extremely diverse, varying by context, tactics, motivations, and impact. Definitions, perceptions of, and reactions to online trolling behaviors vary. Since not all trolling is equal or deviant, managing these behaviors requires context sensitive strategies. This paper describes appropriate responses to various acts of trolling in context, based on perceptions of college students in North America. In addition to strategies for dealing with deviant trolling, this paper illustrates the complexity of dealing with socially and politically motivated trolling.
Chinese collective trolling
(Proceedings of the 81st Annual Conference of the American Society of Information Science and Technology, 2018-11) Sun, H.; Fichman, P.
The vast majority of research on online trolling focused on Western cultures. Given the role context plays in shaping online interactions, it is important to take into account its socio‐cultural context and investigate the role of national culture, by conducting research into trolling in Eastern cultures. In this paper, we attempt to begin addressing this gap by focusing on Chinese collective trolling, looking at Sina Weibo's PG One case. Specifically, we aim to identify who are the major players, what are the metaphors they use, and what are the major trolling tactics employed in Chinese collective trolling event. Using a mixed‐method approach, we analyzed 2,004 posts and 9,967 comments on Sina Weibo's PG One case, of which 480 were sampled for thematic content analysis. Major contributions of this study include an account of collective trolling in Chinese cultural context that is characterized by role switching between trolls, bystanders, and victims during the various stages of the event. We conclude with suggestion for future research directions.
Algorithmic accountability and digital justice: A critical assessment of technical and sociotechnical approaches.
(Proceedings of the 82nd Annual Conference of the American Society of Information Science and Technology, 2019-10) Rosenbaum, H.; Fichman, P.
The concept of digital justice is intended to open up discourse about strategies for bringing relief to those who believe they have been discriminated against or harmed by algorithmic decision making. Digital justice has depended on algorithmic accountability, a means by which entities can be held accountable for the consequences of algorithmic decision making. This paper critically examines the concept of algorithmic accountability to assess its utility as a ground for digital justice and argues that it is fraught with difficulties. After discussing digital justice and algorithmic discrimination, algorithmic accountability is decomposed into two types, technical and sociotechnical. These approaches are critically assessed and a cautionary note is struck about the difficulty of enacting algorithmic accountability. If this argument is persuasive, it implies that the concept of digital justice also has difficulties. The paper concludes with suggestions for moving forward that do not use either version of algorithmic accountability.
Team effectiveness in virtual environments: An ecological approach
(Idea Group Publishing, 2005) Shachaf, P.; Hara, N.
This chapter attempts to address the need for more research on virtual team effectiveness and outlines an ecological theoretical framework that is applicable to virtual learning environments (VLE). Prior empirical studies on virtual team effectiveness used frameworks of traditional team effectiveness and mainly followed Hackman’s normative model (input-process-output). We propose an ecological approach for virtual team effectiveness that accounts for team boundaries management, technologyuse, and external environment in VLE, properties which were previously either nonexistent or contextual. The ecological framework suggests that three components — external environment, internal environment, and boundary management — reciprocally interact with effectiveness. The significance of the proposed framework is a holistic perspective that takes into account the complexity of the external and internal environment of the team. Furthermore, we address the needs for new pedagogical approaches in VLE.
Introduction in Global Wikipedia: International and Cross-Cultural Issues in Online Collaboration
(Rowman & Littlefield, 2014-05) Fichman, P.; Hara, N.
Information Quality on Yahoo! Answers
(Idea Group Publishing, 2014) Fichman, P.
Along with the proliferation of the Social Web, Question and Answer (QA) sites attract millions of users around the globe. On these sites, users ask questions while others provide answers. These QA sites vary by their scope, size, and quality of answers; the most popular QA site is Yahoo! Answers. This chapter aims to examine the quality of information produced by the crowd on Yahoo! Answers, assuming that given enough eyeballs all questions can get good answers. Findings illustrate a process of answer quality improvement through crowdsourcing questions. Improvement is achieved by having multiple answers to any given question instead of a single answer, and through a mechanism of answer evaluation, by which users rank the best answer to any given question. Both processes contribute significantly to the quality of answers one can expect to find on Yahoo! Answers.
Knowledge sharing on Wikipedia embassies.
(Rowman & Littlefield, 2014-05) Fichman, P.; Hara, N.
With the proliferation of the social web, online knowledge sharing across cultural boundaries has become a norm. For example, the English Wikipedia attracts users from all over the world, and much of Wikipedia is written in languages other than English. Intercultural collaboration occurs daily on Wikipedia with users from all over the world making valued contributions. Online intercultural collaboration on Wikipedia is intriguing but understudied, as the majority of research on Wikipedia is based on the English site with few exceptions. Existing cross-cultural research on Wikipedia includes comparative accounts of Wikipedia in multiple languages (e.g., Callahan and Herring 2011; Hara, Shachaf, and Hew 2010; Pfeil, Zaphiris, and Ang 2006; Stvilia, Al-Faraj, and Yi 2009) and case studies of Wikipedia in languages other than English (e.g., Han-Teng 2009; Shachaf and Hara 2010). More scholarly attention is needed in order to understand the ways in which the social web can mediate, facilitate, or hinder intercultural collaboration and how this, in turn, can influence knowledge sharing. The chapter aims to address this gap by identifying the style of interaction that characterizes global knowledge-sharing behaviors on Wikipedia as well as the topics that are posted by users from various countries on Wikimedia Embassies, which assist in cross-lingual projects. More broadly, the research we present here emphasizes a sociotechnical understanding of Wikipedia, and it is particularly informed by social informatics. Social informatics is "the interdisciplinary study of the design, uses, and consequences of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) that takes into account their interaction with institutional and cultural contexts" (Kling, Rosenbaum, and Sawyer 2005, 6). As such, it illustrates the ways in which technology facilitates and mediates intercultural collaboration in an international context, and seeks to answer the question: How do users with diverse national and linguistic backgrounds engage in global, boundary-spanning activities online? The study also delineates how the technological infrastructure is appropriated for local and global use, and how activities on Wikimedia Embassies can enhance our understanding of Wikipedia at the local and global level. Wikimedia Embassies offer useful insights into how cultural and institutional contexts interact with each other and how such contexts influence online knowledge sharing.
A structuration approach to online communities of practice: The case of Q&A communities
(Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 2010-08-25) Rosenbaum, H.; Shachaf, P.
This article describes an approach based on structuration theory (Giddens, 1979, 1984; Orlikowski, 1992, 2000) and communities of practice (Wenger, 1998) that can be used to guide investigation into the dynamics of online question and answer (Q&A) communities. This approach is useful because most research on Q&A sites has focused attention on information retrieval, information‐seeking behavior, and information intermediation and has assumed uncritically that the online Q&A community plays an important role in these domains of study. Assuming instead that research on online communities should take into account social, technical, and contextual factors (Kling, Rosenbaum, & Sawyer, 2005), the utility of this approach is demonstrated with an analysis of three online Q&A communities seen as communities of practice. This article makes a theoretical contribution to the study of online Q&A communities and, more generally, to the domain of social reference.
Anonymity, geolocation, and territorial community norms and composition impact on online trolling
(International Journal of Communication, 2019) Fichman, P.; Peters, E.
There is little research into online trolling on platforms with anonymity and geolocation features. On platforms such as Jodel, Whisper, and Yik Yak, anonymity may trigger online trolling and deviant behaviors, but geolocation features may hinder these behaviors through the imposition of territorial community norms and composition. Our study aims to address this gap through content analysis of 3,697 unique posts on Yik Yak, an anonymous geolocal platform that ceased to exist in 2017. Based on code cooccurrence, we found that trolling posts frequently include community-harming behaviors, such as insults, snark, and the use of vulgar language, and are more likely than other posts to include memes and vulgar language. We also found that territorial community events mediated the extent of community-building and community-harming behaviors, which increased or decreased on the platform according to changes in community composition context. Thus, we conclude that sociotechnical features of the platform in dynamic contexts affected online trolling behaviors by enabling and constraining manifestations of community-harming and community-building behaviors.
Graphicons and Tactics in Satirical Trolling on Tumblr.com
(International Journal of Communication, 2019) Fichman, P.; Dainas, A. R.
Internet trolling is inherently multimodal, relying on both textual and graphical means of communication (or “graphicons”). We examined how satire and ideological trolls who use graphicons on the microblogging site Tumblr.com, use knowledge of local culture as part of their trolling tactics. Based on a qualitative thematic analysis of 172 trolling posts (that include 284 graphicons), we identified 7 Tumblr satire troll tactics: the lying tactic, the derailment tactic, the parodic exaggeration tactic, the misappropriation of jargon tactic, the straight man (or “comical seriousness”) tactic, the troll reveal tactic, and the politeness tactic. We also found that ideologically extremizing language was the most commonly used outrage tactic and that trolls used graphicons frequently as flame baiting prompts and for tone modification.
Cross‐cultural analysis of the Wikipedia community
(Journal of the American Society of Information Science and Technology, 2010) Hara, Noriko; Shachaf, Pnina; Hew, Khe Foon
This paper reports a cross‐cultural analysis of four Wikipedias in different languages and demonstrates their roles as communities of practice (CoPs). Prior research on CoPs and on the Wikipedia community often lacks cross cultural analysis. Despite the fact that over 75% of Wikipedia is written in languages other than English, research on Wikipedia primarily focuses on the English Wikipedia and tends to overlook the Wikipedias in other languages. This paper first argues that Wikipedia communities can be analyzed and understood as CoPs. Second, norms of behaviors are examined in four Wikipedia languages (English, Hebrew, Japanese, and Malay), and the similarities and differences across these four languages are reported. Specifically, typical behaviors on three types of discussion spaces (Talk, User Talk, and Wikipedia Talk) are identified and examined across languages. Hofstede’s dimensions of cultural diversity as well as the size of the community, and the function of each discussion area provide lenses for understanding the similarities and differences. As such, this paper expands the research on online CoPs through an examination of cultural variations across multiple CoPs, and increases our understanding of Wikipedia communities in various languages.

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