A cognitive categorization-based approach for understanding identity representation online

Computationally representing social identities using social networking profiles traditionally involves the reduction of identities to fit into simplistic categories such as "friends." In contrast, this thesis proposes that the data structures underlying user identities can be algorithmically processed and interpreted in ways that assist in understanding more nuanced aspects of identity such as "subculture" or"personality" Building upon an interdisciplinary computational identity model developed by Fox Harrell in his NSF-supported Advanced Identity Representation Project, this thesis proposes an algorithm based on theories of cognitive categorization[6, 7] to reveal implicit categories in computational identity systems. The algorithm has been applied to social networking site Facebook and a suite of graphical user interfaces was developed to enable users to explore individual and group identities. In a qualitative study, we found that most of the generated categories coherently represented social groups and would be useful for applications such as expressing the groups' collective identities.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Vargas, Gregory G

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Fox Harrell.

• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/76994

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/76994