[AISWorld] [AJIS] New Section: Research on Recent Advances in Social Media

[Ajis Editor]

Hi,


The *Australasian Journal of Information Systems* has just published its
latest special section.

Research on Recent Advances in Social Media

*Preface to the Special Section on Recent Advances in Social Media*
Daswin de Silva, Susan Bedingfield, Damminda Alahakoon

*Abstract*
An introduction to the section.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v22i0.1911


*An Extended Cognitive Situation Model for Capturing Subjective Dynamics of
Events from Social Media*
Yujie Wang, Damminda Alahakoon, Daswin De Silva

*Abstract*
The event-indexing situation models are introduced as event models derived
from language to facilitate comprehension and memory retrieval. These
models explain how fragmental information about events are collected,
integrated and updated into a coherent set of views of what the text is
about. The models are adopted as the basis of this study as an attempt to
capture the event with contextual, dynamic, and social features, as
conveyed by the vast volumes of online textual resources. Information in
social media is received through highly personalized channels and is
reshaped and interpreted in a more individual, segmental and real-time
manner. The reprocessed information is then spread at high speed to a wider
range of receivers. Therefore, the interpretation of mainstream media
content is influenced by ongoing and dynamic contribution of opinions by
users empowered by social media. This new phenomenon has not been examined
so far from the perspective of the impact on conventional situation models.
This paper explores how collaborative and sharing aspects of social media
emphasize subjectivity of interpretation of mainstream media and proposes
an extended cognitive situation model which better represents event-centric
knowledge. This study investigates the mechanisms for constructing and
updating the situation models with continuous textual information streamed
from heterogeneous forms of media. It also empirically demonstrates how the
proposed model can enhance the understanding of subjective aspects of
events with dynamic social opinions.

*Keywords* social media; natural language processing; text comprehension;
collective social opinion

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v22i0.1701


*Which Factors Determine Our Online Social Capital? An Analysis Based on
Structural Equation Modelling*
Michael Grottke, Janine Viol Hacker, Carolin Durst


*Abstract *The relationship between social network sites and social capital
has received much research attention. However, two research gaps can be
identified in the existing literature. First, only few studies have
examined online social capital as a resource in online social networks. In
this regard, it is not clear how to validly measure online social capital.
Second, while the factors influencing social capital, among them properties
of an individual’s social network, have been investigated in offline
settings, such factors have not yet been investigated in terms of online
social capital. Addressing these gaps, we asked 1000 Facebook users to
provide information on their Facebook usage and online friendship network.
Employing structural equation modelling for analysing the survey data, we
show that Williams’ Internet Social Capital Scales, which are commonly used
to assess social capital in offline settings, can be used to validly
measure online social capital. Moreover, we find that some of the variables
influencing offline social capital, among them similarity in terms of
sociodemographic attributes, seem less important in an online setting.

*Keywords* Social capital; Social networks; Structural modeling /
Structural equation modeling (SEM)

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v22i0.1656


*Influence of Social Broadcasting Networks on News Consumption*
Shailesh Palekar, Darshana Sedera

*Abstract*
This study assesses potentially sensitive effects of a specific sub-class
of digital social technologies called social broadcasting networks (SBNs).
Adopting the explanatory mechanisms of social network structures (Borgatti
et al. 2009; Kane et al. 2014), and adapting Herzberg et al’s (1959) Two
Factor theory, it investigates how the structure of a SBN (conceptualized
as its relative advantage), and the influence of users in a SBN empower two
key news consumption behaviours viz. switching and continuance. Employing
the survey (qualitative) method, the study empirically validates the news
consumption behaviours of 325 respondents. Findings reveal a more nuanced
role of SBNs indicating the potential benefits to news firms because of
individuals switching to traditional news mediums while in the same breadth
highlights the potential of SBNs as competitive news providers. It shows
intermittent use of SBNs and signifies that when online and offline news
mediums co-exist, influence of users in the incumbent (online) medium plays
a powerful role in inducing or refraining the use of a substitute offline
medium. This study develops new ontological and theoretical understanding
of the entanglement of technology and social activity that is dynamic, at
times ephemeral and pervasively ubiquitous.

*Keywords* Social Media; Two-Factor Theory; News Media

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v22i0.1707


*Helpful or harmful? Exploring the impact of social media usage on intimate
relationships*
Naomi Whiteside, Torgeir Aleti, Jason Pallant, John Zeleznikow


*Abstract *Internet access in Australia is increasing with the most popular
online activity reported by Australians being social media use. The
literature is divided as to whether social media use is helpful or harmful
to intimate relationships. Recent research from an Australian family
counselling provider indicates that social media use is resulting in
negative intimate relationship outcomes, echoing recent American research
findings. However, other researchers note that social media use can have
positive outcomes for intimate relationships and individuals. These
different findings prompted this research which focuses on the impact of
social media usage on intimate relationships using Facebook as a case
study. A survey of 518 Australians examining Facebook usage, relationship
satisfaction and household income was undertaken. The results suggest that
relationship satisfaction varies based on types of social media usage when
controlled for household income. For most respondents, social media usage
did not have a negative impact on their relationship. However, results
indicated that where their partner was a ‘friend’ on social media, they
were less likely to report concerns relating to social media usage
impacting their relationship. It was also found that those living alone or
with children on low incomes were more likely to be dissatisfied with their
relationships and rely on social media to connect with others. Finally,
four types of Facebook usage were identified and mapped against intensity
of usage and relationship satisfaction, indicating that the way in which
social media is used impacts relationship satisfaction. These findings
indicate that social media use is helpful for some intimate relationships
and harmful for others based on individual usage and their interaction with
their partner via the platform.

*Keywords* social media; social networking; intimate relationships;
Facebook; relationship satisfaction

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v22i0.1653


*Using Social Media to Enable Staff Knowledge Sharing in Higher Education
Institutions*
Niall Corcoran, Aidan Duane

*Abstract*
Higher education institutions (HEIs) are knowledge intensive environments
by nature. However, the management of organisational knowledge and the
promotion of staff knowledge sharing is largely neglected in these
institutions. This study examines how enterprise social networks can enable
staff knowledge sharing in communities of practice in that context. The
study is framed as an Action Research project, covering three cycles over a
12 month period. A conceptual model was developed for empirical testing and
data was collected through focus groups and interviews, supplemented by
reflective journaling and content analysis. The findings support the
conceptual model and provide insight into the antecedents necessary for the
creation of an enterprise social network enabled knowledge sharing
environment, the motivators for and barriers to participation, and the
perceived organisational and individual benefits of increased staff
knowledge sharing activity. The findings indicate that the barriers to
participation are influenced by the prevalent organisation structure and
culture, and a divide between faculty and other staff. However, individual
benefits that accrue from participation may influence greater
participation, and organisational benefits that accrue may influence
organisational strategies that drive change in structure and culture to
promote the development of the knowledge sharing environment. A number of
findings have practical implications for the management of higher education
institutions, such as the evidence of a divide between faculty and other
staff, and the perceived existence of an organisational culture that
inhibits staff communication, interaction and collaboration. In general,
the study findings provide an opportunity for educationalists to better
understand the scope and impact of employing social media platforms for
knowledge sharing. This study adds to the growing body of work on
organisational implementations of social media, and should be of interest
to practitioners and researchers undertaking similar projects.

*Keywords* social media; knowledge management; higher education; action
research

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v22i0.1647



*“Power to the People!”: Social Media Discourse on Regional Energy Issues
in Australia*
Kerri Morgan, Marc Cheong, Susan Bedingfield

*Abstract*
Social media provides people from all socio-economic sectors with the
opportunity to voice their opinions. Platforms such as Twitter provide the
means to share one’s opinion with little effort and cost. But do these
media empower everyday people to make their voice heard? In this research,
we introduce a novel approach for investigating the voice of different
Twitter groups on social media platforms, by combining text clustering and
an analysis of cliques in the resulting network. We focus on a case study
using Twitter interactions with respect to energy issues, in particular the
closure of coal-fired power stations such as Hazelwood. Implications from
this study will benefit stakeholders from governments to industry to the
‘common man’, in understanding how discourse on social media reflects
public consumer sentiment.

*Keywords* social media; Twitter; graph theory; data mining; pattern
recognition

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v22i0.1678


-=-=-=-
*Call for Papers*

AJIS publishes high quality contributions to the global Information Systems
(IS) discipline with an emphasis on theory and practice on the Australasian
context.

Topics cover core IS theory development and application (the nature of
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information systems on individuals, organisations and society), IS domains
(e-business, e-government, e-learning, e-law, etc) and IS research
approaches.

Research and conceptual development based in a very wide range of
epistemological methods are welcomed.

All manuscripts undergo double blind reviewing by at least 2 well qualified
reviewers. Their task is to provide constructive, fair, and timely advice
to authors and editor.

AJIS welcomes research and conceptual development of the IS discipline
based
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body of knowledge.
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•       Conceptual soundness - theory, model or framework made explicit.
•       Argument - design of the research or investigation is sound;
methods appropriate.
•       Clarity - Topic is clearly stated; illustrations, charts & examples
support content.
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•       References - sound, used appropriately, and sufficient –
appropriate AJIS articles referenced
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Cheers
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Editor-in-Chief, Australasian Journal of Information Systems
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