This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by HAMPTON, K. N. Articles by WELLMAN, B. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Netville Online and Offline

Observing and Surveying a Wired Suburb

University of Toronto

BARRY WELLMAN

University of Toronto

Since the mid-1850s, scholars have debated how technological innovation would affect community. The debate continues as the Internet makes it increasingly possible for people to socialize, shop, work, learn, and participate in leisure activities all from within their home. Will the movement of these previously public activities into the private realm lead to reduced participation in public activities? What will be the fate of community and social relations as a result of the growth of computer-mediated communication? Netville is a suburban Toronto development equipped with a high-speed network as part of its design. The clustering of homes within this area allowed us to study the social networks, civic involvement, Internet use, and attitudes of residents. This article explores the research approach of the Netville project and describes its main sources of data collection: surveys collected using computer-assisted interviewing and ethnographic fieldwork.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. McCarty, J. L. Molina, C. Aguilar, and L. Rota A Comparison of Social Network Mapping and Personal Network Visualization Field Methods, May 1, 2007; 19(2): 145 - 162. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. H. Hiller and T. M. Franz New ties, old ties and lost ties: the use of the internet in diaspora New Media Society, December 1, 2004; 6(6): 731 - 752. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. T. KIM and D. WEAVER Communication Research About the Internet: a Thematic Meta-analysis New Media Society, December 1, 2002; 4(4): 518 - 538. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Sassen Towards a Sociology of Information Technology Current Sociology, May 1, 2002; 50(3): 365 - 388. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. HAMPTON and B. WELLMAN Long Distance Community in the Network Society: Contact and Support Beyond Netville American Behavioral Scientist, November 1, 2001; 45(3): 476 - 495. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. L. KAVANAUGH and S. J. PATTERSON The Impact of Community Computer Networks on Social Capital and Community Involvement American Behavioral Scientist, November 1, 2001; 45(3): 496 - 509. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. Wellman Computer Networks As Social Networks Science, September 14, 2001; 293(5537): 2031 - 2034. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. A. LIEVROUW New Media and the `Pluralization of Life-Worlds': A Role for Information in Social Differentiation New Media Society, March 1, 2001; 3(1): 7 - 28. [Abstract] [PDF]