The Effect of Technology on Social Interaction in Local Community Organizations

With each new innovation in technology since at least the Industrial Revolution, and probably before, optimists and pessimists have squared off in a cyclic debate over the impact of the day's newest technology. Self-proclaimed futurists for centuries have attempted to foretell the impact of technology on society with varied success. The goal of this research project is to study the effect of computer network technology on the social interactions of the local community organizations in Blacksburg, VA. Online surveys filled out by the leaders and members of these organizations measure different aspects of each organization and the use and usage of Internet technology within that organization. Correlations between the two may help us identify ways technology has affected the way we communicate with one another. Are community organizations communicating more or less? If so, how? Has face-to-face interaction been forsaken in lieu of technology such as email? The effects found in the survey results should give way to meaningful discourse on how technology can best be used to aid social interaction in local organizations.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Computer Science

Department dc:contributor.department

Computer Science

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2002

Author dc:creator

• Snook, Jason Spence

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Rosson, Mary Beth

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Carroll, John M.
• Kavanaugh, Andrea L.

• Community Networks
• Community
• Social Impact
• Social Capital
• Social Interaction
• Network Communities
• Internet

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-05142002-153104

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/32741