The purpose of this study is to examine the structure and network of peer relationships and to discover the role in the online class community using a social network analysis. Unlike previous researches that commonly focused on online interactions amo...
The purpose of this study is to examine the structure and network of peer relationships and to discover the role in the online class community using a social network analysis. Unlike previous researches that commonly focused on online interactions amongst strangers, this study analyzes how members of the real-world community interact in the online realm comprising of the same members. The research examines 4 levels, from the macroscopic level to the microscopic level, until it reaches the system level, subgroup level, dyadic level and individual level.43 elementary students and 31 middle school students in the area of Seoul participate in this research. The scales used were the Friendship Networks Questionnaire and the Online Community Usage Questionnaire. Major findings of this study are as follows:According to the results of the research Question1, elementary school and middle school students materialized in a form that the communication flowing is cut by the gender difference in whole network system level. While, appeared in part concentration form that unite with some students as the central figure in on-line class. Research Question2 analyzes the subgroups of the different classes. The communication of friends who share similar demographic characteristics such as social backgrounds are happened each other actively. Through this, we can know that the homophily theory is applied all off-line and on-line relation.These phenomenons appear more specifically in Research Question3 that examine the multiplex of a dyadic friend relationship both on-line and off-line. Repetition of this relationship can assume communication opportunity and enlargement of meeting, is intimate in actuality relation and interaction was expose that frequent relation has high doubleness in on-line relation. On the other hand, communication with a friend that I hate did not happen in an on-line as well as an off-line study. Lastly, Research Question 4, examines the friendship network in an individual level. By the result, according to the individual''s social status (depending on the popular or rejected students), there was difference in the class online community utilization in both degree and satisfaction. That is, a person who visits vigorously in on-line community and writes much in notice board was expose that is popular students from actuality space.Considering the above aspects, this research focuses on the uses and gratifications of the Internet community. However, the on-line is a reflection of the off-line environment, and 'The rich get richer and the poor get poorer' can be maximized more in online preferably. Based on this study, the social structure on friendship and networks will be discussed. Limitations of this study and the suggestions can be offered for further research.