A18. Rice,
R.E.
& Barnett, G. (1986). Group communication networking in an
information environment: Applying metric multidimensional scaling. In
M. McLaughlin (Ed.),
Communication yearbook, 9, 315-338. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage. (A Top paper at the International Communication Association
conference,
1985.)
Two major components of social interaction have
been receiving
increasing attention by researchers. The first is new communication
media and the second
is social networks. The research reported here combines these interests
by
describing and modeling the changes in the communication network of ten
groups
using a computer conferencing system over a two-year period. This
combined
focus is natural in that communication technologies facilitate human
interaction
by helping to develop and maintain human communication networks, while
the
analysis of networks can begin to identify patterns of use and social
structure
in new situations, such as new communication systems.
Two aspects of new media are emphasized here: (a) the
potential for changes in traditional communication patterns among
groups due to attributes of these communication systems and (b) the
availability of behavioral communication data collected by the medium's
computer system. Two aspects of network analysis are emphasized
here as well: (a) longitudinal analysis and modeling
and (b) the application of metric multidimensional scaling as one
appropriate
network methodology.
Click
here for PDF copy of publication