Online communities of practice: Social or cognitive arenas?

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

This study examines whether interactions between members of communities of practice typically have cognitive or social character. Content analysis of more than 7000 posts, automatic words frequencies analyses as well as interviews with community members demonstrate that the interactions between members of the Israeli Ministry of Social Affairs’ communities of practice, the subject of the present study, emphasize the cognitive rather than social aspects. This emphasis is reflected in the content of posts, the avoidance from discussing personal cases or offering emotional support and more. The findings are particularly interesting given the nature of these communities as a space for social workers whose work requires and is characterized by a high degree of social and emotional interactions.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationKnowledge, Information and Creativity Support Systems - 9th International Conference KICSS 2014, Selected Papers
EditorsGeorge Angelos Papadopoulos, Andrzej M.J. Skulimowski, Janusz Kacprzyk, Susumu Kunifuji
Pages131-143
Number of pages13
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016
Event9th International Conference on Knowledge, Information and Creativity Support Systems, KICSS 2014 - Limassol, Cyprus
Duration: 6 Nov 20148 Nov 2014

Publication series

NameAdvances in Intelligent Systems and Computing
Volume416
ISSN (Print)2194-5357

Conference

Conference9th International Conference on Knowledge, Information and Creativity Support Systems, KICSS 2014
Country/TerritoryCyprus
CityLimassol
Period6/11/148/11/14

Keywords

  • Cognitive exchange
  • Content analysis
  • Digital government
  • Online communities of practice
  • Organizational systems
  • Social services

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