identity, community building and connections between communities
Ines Kožuh (Author), Matjaž Debevc (Mentor), Manfred Hintermair (Co-mentor)

Abstract

Social networking site use among the d/Deaf and hard of hearing has triggered a growing interest in examining the impact of online activities on their experiences. Despite extensive research on the use of social networking sites among hearing users, only a few studies have focused on use among the d/Deaf and hard of hearing. There is an evident lack of comprehensive research on d/Deaf and hard of hearing users% experiences with social networking sites in which both the effects of the users% characteristics on their identification with other users and their tendency to connect with members of online communities are examined. In our study, we developed a theoretical model for examining D/HH users% experiences with social networking sites. The model investigates the relationships and effects among the aspects (identity, community building and connections between communities) and factors (hearing loss, educational background, communication situation and use of technology) relating to the experiences of d/Deaf and hard of hearing with social networking sites. The primary purpose of the model was to define how the aspects are associated with each other and how the factors influence the aspects. In line with the model, an online questionnaire in sign and written language was developed. A study was conducted in Germany, Slovenia, Austria and Switzerland, where the questionnaire was completed by 199 German, 43 Slovene, 21 Austrian and 20 Swiss d/Deaf and hard of hearing users of social networking sites. Due to sample size the main emphasis was on the results gained from the study conducted in Germany. It was shown that online Deaf identity is negatively related to online hearing identity, but positively related to community building and connections among communities. While community building is positively related to connections between communities, online hearing identity is neither related to community building nor connections between communities. Additionally, hearing status was found to have a significant effect on online Deaf and online hearing identity. Frequency of use of social networking sites has no significant effect on any aspect, while frequency of posting videos is the only activity having a significant effect on community building. Frequency of communication with the deaf in sign language on social networking sites has a positive effect on online Deaf identity and community building; frequency of communication with the deaf and hard of hearing in written language has a further positive effect on community building. Results of examining the effects of different countries on the aspects showed that Slovene users were more engaged in community building and connecting with members of other communities than German users. These findings imply a high potential for using social networking sites in the education process. Accordingly, we developed recommendations for teachers, and designers and developers of educational processes in order to assure efficient communication support for the d/Deaf and hard of hearing. These recommendations might be most beneficial in distance education in terms of globalization, since social networking sites provide opportunities for inclusion of students from abroad. Similarly, social networking sites provide wider opportunities for work between mentors and mentees, since questions can be posed and answers can be given directly on social networking sites.

Keywords

deaf and hard of hearing;social networking sites;online identity;online community;community building;connection between communities;

Data

Language: English
Year of publishing:
Typology: 2.08 - Doctoral Dissertation
Organization: UM FERI - Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Publisher: I. Kožuh]
UDC: [316.77:004.773.7]:316.344.6/.7(043.3)
COBISS: 18647318 Link will open in a new window
Views: 1588
Downloads: 185
Average score: 0 (0 votes)
Metadata: JSON JSON-RDF JSON-LD TURTLE N-TRIPLES XML RDFA MICRODATA DC-XML DC-RDF RDF

Other data

Secondary language: Slovenian
Secondary title: Gluhi in naglušni na spletnih družbenih omrežjih
Secondary abstract: Uporaba spletnih družbenih omrežij med g/Gluhimi in naglušnimi osebami je vzbudila zanimanje za preučevanje vplivov spletnih aktivnosti na njihove izkušnje. Kljub obsežnim raziskavam o uporabi spletnih družbenih omrežij med slišečimi uporabniki, le nekaj študij naslavlja njihovo uporabo med g/Gluhimi in naglušnimi uporabniki. Tako je razvidno pomanjkanje celovitih raziskav na temo izkušenj s spletnimi družbenimi omrežji med g/Gluhimi in naglušnimi uporabniki, kjer bi preučevali vplive značilnosti uporabnikov na njihovo poistovetenje z drugimi uporabniki in težnjo po povezovanju s člani spletnih skupnosti. V naši študiji smo razvili teoretični model za preučevanje izkušenj g/Gluhih in naglušnih uporabnikov s spletnimi družbenimi omrežji. Model preučuje povezave in vplive med vidiki (identiteta, grajenje skupnosti in povezave med skupnostmi) in dejavniki (izguba sluha, izobrazba, komunikacijska situacija in uporaba tehnologije) v povezavi z izkušnjami g/Gluhih in naglušnih oseb s spletnimi družbenimi omrežji. Osnovni namen modela je bil določiti, kako se vidiki med seboj povezujejo in kako dejavniki vplivajo na vidike. V skladu z modelom smo razvili spletni vprašalnik v znakovnem in pisnem jeziku. Študijo smo izvedli v Nemčiji, Sloveniji, Avstriji in Švici, kjer je vprašalnik izpolnilo 199 nemških, 43 slovenskih, 21 avstrijskih in 20 švicarskih g/Gluhih in naglušnih uporabnikov spletnih družbenih omrežij. Zaradi velikosti vzorca smo dali glavni poudarek rezultatom, ki smo jih pridobili v študiji v Nemčiji. Izkazalo se je, da je identiteta Gluhih negativno povezana z identiteto slišečih na spletu, a pozitivno povezana z grajenjem skupnosti in povezavami med skupnostmi. Medtem ko je grajenje skupnosti pozitivno povezano s povezavami med skupnostmi, identiteta slišečih na spletu ni povezana niti z grajenjem spletnih skupnosti niti s povezavami med njimi. Prav tako smo našli značilen vpliv statusa izgube sluha na identiteto Gluhih in slišečih na spletu. Pogostost uporabe spletnih družbenih omrežij ne vpliva značilno na nobenega od vidikov, medtem ko je pogostost objavljanja video posnetkov edina aktivnost, ki ima značilen vpliv na grajenje spletnih skupnosti. Pogostost komunikacije na spletnih družbenih omrežjih z g/Gluhimi v znakovnem jeziku ima pozitiven vpliv na identiteto Gluhih na spletu in grajenje skupnosti; pogostost komunikacije z gluhimi in naglušnimi v pisnem jeziku pa ima nadalje pozitiven vpliv na grajenje skupnosti. Rezultati preučevanja vplivov različnih držav na vidike so pokazali, da se slovenski uporabniki bolj ukvarjajo z grajenjem spletnih skupnosti in s povezovanjem s člani drugih skupnosti kot nemški uporabniki. V ugotovitvah se kaže visok potencial za uporabo spletnih družbenih omrežij v izobraževalnem procesu. Razvili smo priporočila za učitelje, načrtovalce in razvijalce izobraževalnega procesa, da bi zagotovili učinkovito podporo komunikaciji g/Gluhih in naglušnih uporabnikov. Omenjena priporočila bi bila lahko uporabna v izobraževanju na daljavo v smislu globalizacije izobraževalnega procesa, saj spletna družbena omrežja zagotavljajo priložnosti za vključevanje študentov iz tujine. Prav tako spletna družbena omrežja nudijo širše možnosti za delo med mentorji in njihovimi učenci, saj lahko zastavljajo vprašanja in dajejo odgovore neposredno na spletnih družbenih omrežjih.
Secondary keywords: gluhi in naglušni;spletna družbena omrežja;spletna identiteta;spletna skupnost;grajenje skupnosti;povezave med skupnostmi;
URN: URN:SI:UM:
Type (COBISS): Doctoral dissertation
Thesis comment: Univ. v Mariboru, Fak. za elektrotehniko, računalništvo in informatiko
Pages: XIII, 224 str.
ID: 8739745