Developing a Facebook/Myspace Bibliography

Submitted by Bob on February 13, 2006 - 18:43.

Hi Folks:

I'm working with a group who is trying to look objectively at Facebook, Myspace and other social networks to find if there are meaningful lessons about their popularity which we could incorporate into electronic portfolio design for use in higher education. It might well turn out that these spaces are popular with students mainly because their "teachers" aren't there, but we're hopeful that there are some more objective lessons to take away.

The first step in our project is to engage in a fairly complete literature survey. We're working on a bibliography, but I didn't want to pass up your collective knowledge -- does anyone know of scholarly work done/being done on Facebook and Myspace specifically that we should not miss?

Thanks in advance for the pointers . . .

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Student Life on the Facebook

Submitted by Quinn on February 13, 2006 - 22:37.

Fred Stutzman, a grad student at UNC-Chapel Hill, has done some interesting work on the use of Facebook at his university:

http://chimprawk.blogspot.com/2006/01/student-life-on-facebook.html

Bob's picture

Thanks, Quinn

Submitted by Bob on February 14, 2006 - 10:57.

Thanks, Quinn, for that pointer. It looks like Stutzman has some great data on Facebook to share.

association of internet researchers

Submitted by klunsford on February 14, 2006 - 13:42.

You may already know about this list, but the association of internet researchers would also be a good place for posting your query.

Bob's picture

aoir.org

Submitted by Bob on February 15, 2006 - 13:34.

Wow -- it even runs on Drupal! Thanks for the pointer. In case others want to visit, it is here:

http://www.aoir.org/

Dissertation

Submitted by Jenae on March 9, 2006 - 13:48.

I am working on my dissertation on social networks. It will be based on a virtual ethnography. I'm concentrating on incoming Freshman and their use of social networks like Facebook, Flickr, and Blogger. I would love to keep in touch about your findings.

cel4145's picture

Social network listserv?

Submitted by cel4145 on March 9, 2006 - 15:40.

Since this seems to be a hot topic that I'm sure will continue to develop as a field of study, Kairosnews could create a social network listserv for teachers and researchers to keep in touch about research and new findings? Would there be interest in this?

Bob's picture

social networks

Submitted by Bob on March 12, 2006 - 16:42.

Sure, Jenae, we'd be happy to share what we learn. One place we'll be doing this is at the Indiana Assessment Institute conference in October, 2006. But we'd be happy to talk before then, too.

One thing that I find difficult: do you have any idea on how to get hard numbers on Myspace or Facebook? I think I can figure out how to get some numbers about my own campus use of Facebook, much in the same way Stutzman did, but I'd like to know if there's a better way.

Bob's picture

Yes

Submitted by Bob on March 12, 2006 - 16:46.

Charlie:

One way this could be pretty useful is in compiling usage numbers. Facebook data seems to be limited to individual campuses (so far, anyway). Creating a clearinghouse to share that data might give a more complete picture.

cel4145's picture

discussion on TechRhet

Submitted by cel4145 on March 13, 2006 - 17:18.

As you know, there's been discussion on TechRhet. Do you think there those involved would be interested in joining?