COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION-SYSTEM NETWORK DATA - THEORETICAL CONCERNS AND EMPIRICAL EXAMPLES

The review combines two separate foci in recent research: (1) the diffusion and use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) systems in organizations, and (2) the conceptualization of communication as a process of interaction and convergence, as represented by the network paradigm. The article discusses (1) rationales for this combined focus based upon the characteristics of CMC systems, (2) application of the network paradigm to study CMC systems, (3) the collection samples, usage data, network flows, and content by CMC systems, (4) some theoretical issues that may be illuminated through analyses of data collected by CMC systems. The article concludes by discussing issues of reliability, validity and ethics. © 1990 Academic Press Limited.