E-Community When an E-Community Consists

¶ … E-Community

When an e-community consists of positive components; constructs; consensuses, then the impact this virtual community wields upon its members will consequently prove to be positive. This researcher contends that this study ultimately confirms the validity of this statement, which constitutes the hypothesis for this study. Consequently, as this researcher relates results formulating the conclusion for this study, which deliberately focused on the impact of e-communities, recommendations (for further consideration) are also presented.

E-communities, with seemingly unlimited boundaries, encompass a myriad of similarities; yet reflect a range of differences from "real" communities, defined by geographical borders. Through the analysis of each of the five following research questions, explored during the research process, this researcher extracted pertinent points leading to the study's conclusion:

What is an e-community?

How does a virtual community differ from a "real" community?

In what ways are virtual and "real" communities similar?

What are some examples of and specific characteristics of e-communities?

What are some dangers and miscommunications in regard to e-communities?

Survey Question number one:

When did you join your e-community? If more than one, please answer for each. This first question denotes one primary difference/similarity between a virtual community and a "real" community, as to become a member of an e-community, an individual makes a point at a particular time to "join" his/her chosen group.

In a real community, on the other hand, a member of this type community may or may not have made a point to "join" his/her group.

In a similar sense, question number two denotes a difference/similarity between a virtual community and a "real" community. Friends and their influence and impact both scenarios in regard to the sect that survey question number two: Why did you join your particular e-community? Although specific similar interests, other than games, music and/or film, were not identified by participants in the survey, results confirm contingents contributed by Judy Parr and Lorrae Ward (2006) in the Journal article, "Building on Foundations: Creating an Online Community." Parr and Ward (2006) report that the community functions include.".. common themes such as interdependence, interaction/participation, meaningful relationships, shared interests...."

Difference/similarities again surfaced regarding question number four: How many members are in your e-community? One specific similarity relates to the fact that the number of members in a virtual or real community may range from as few or fewer than four individuals to 1,000,000 or more. Although none of the 20 participants specifically stated they were not certain of the number of members in their e-community, this researcher questions whether the majority of individuals belonging to virtual communities and/or "real" communities can accurately determine the number of members in each group. Partial answers to the research questions four and five can be extracted from questions four and five:

How often do you connect online with other members of your e-community? How much time (average) do you spend each day in your e-community? Each week? Participants responses related that most connected with other members each day, while almost one third more engaged in their e-communities several times each week. Answers to question number five, from this study's 20 participants, confirm that most participants connect online with other members of their e-community daily. The element of "time" constitutes a vital characteristic members invest into e-communities. Amounts of time reportedly have "spent on the Internet per household has soared from two hours a week to 16 hours a week since 1999." ("Britain Online; as TV Becomes a Turnoff, Families Spend More and More Time Surfing the Net" 2004, p. 39) the 2100 minutes reportedly spent online each week by two participants equals 12.5 hours, which could; this researcher contends resent cause for concern. Most participants reported they spent at least 3 hours per week online in their e-communities. Interesting to note, two participants did not know how much time they spent each week online.

Responses to survey question number six: "What problems/concerns do you recognize to exist in your e-community?" noted that half of these e-community members had not experienced any problems/concerns related to their e-community. In response to: "What are some dangers and miscommunications in regard to e-communities?" this study's fifth research question, albeit, problems/concerns do regularly surface in e-communities. One contemporary problem/concern relates to the fact that anyone can pretend to be an expert in any field and can post information. Sean P. Haney (2000, p. 575) reports in "Pharmaceutical dispensing in the 'wild west': advancing health care and protecting consumers through the regulation of online pharmacies," although the Internet consists of the phenomenal tool for an individual to use to obtain information, particularly health care information, as well as, this is related concerns, dangers do exist. Reasons Haney (2000, p. 575) cited "included lack of quality control standards the lack of quality control standards and the fact that practically anyone can post information renders the quality of this information particularly suspect." Another problem/concern related in "Online Games: Game vs. Addiction," (2007) purports that approximately one in 10 youth between the ages of 8 and 18 "are addicted to online gaming." Some kids reportedly play games as much as 60 hours are more a week. Symptoms kids and adults may experience include:

Becoming reclusive;

Drop in grades

Quitting high school;

Experiencing depression;

Ignoring families;

Losing jobs and/or getting fired;

Experiencing financial problems;

Experiencing relationship problems.

In the newspaper article: "Survey: Fifth of youth solicited on sex online," Cheryl Wetzstein (2001, p. 6) reports that according to the Journal of the American Medical Association's published study, approximately one out of five youths surveyed who routinely use the Internet were solicited sexually during 2000. Robert Bauserman (2003), covers the child prostitution (CP) topic in the journal article: "Child Pornography Online: Myth, Fact, and Social Control," as he also relates potential ways to reduce CP online. Only three participants responded affirmatively to survey question number seven: Has any other member of your e-community ever harassed or bullied you? This low response appears to be less than indicated by research related and the literature review, this researcher suggests.

Responses to survey question number eight indicate communication problems between e-community members may be common. In response to the question: Have you ever engaged in an argument with another member of your e-community?, eight out of the 20 participants admitted that they had experienced conflict with another e-community member.

Survey question number nine: What benefits do you obtain from being a member of your e-community? Indicate participants in this study consider being a member of an e-community to be a positive experience. Communication appears to be a vital component connecting the community members, a common characteristic needed in/for e-communities.

Answers to: Have you ever met a member of your e-community offline, in the "real" world?, survey question number ten could reflect potential positive possibilities or similar to experience of being an e-community member, depend on factors contributing to the developing relationship. Half of participants indicate they have met or planned to meet a member of your e-community offline, in the "real" world.

Answers to survey question number 11 particularly contribute to the validation of this study's hypothesis. Each of the answers given by the 20 participants indicates their experience to be more positive than negative. Responses to the question: What benefits do you obtain from being a member of your e-community? This researcher notes that an e-community members' interactions with other members and their communities to rival interactions in "real" communities. These e-community members mutually interact as friends in fun-related ways; request help; obtain information/skills; communicate/network. Each of these components contributes to identifying an e-community, as well as, constituting characteristics of e-communities. Answers to survey question number 12 also indicate e-community members consider their membership positive. Out of the 20 e-community members answering the survey questions, 17 responded, "Yes," to the question: Would you recommend other individuals join your e-community? Why or why not?