J 2008

Attributes of Participation in Online Communities among Czech Internet Users

ŠTĚTKA, Václav and David ŠMAHEL

Basic information

Original name

Attributes of Participation in Online Communities among Czech Internet Users

Name in Czech

Atributy participace v online komunitách mezi českými uživateli internetu

Authors

ŠTĚTKA, Václav (203 Czech Republic, guarantor) and David ŠMAHEL (203 Czech Republic)

Edition

Observatorio, Lisbon, The Observatory for Media, 2008, 1646-5954

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

50000 5. Social Sciences

Country of publisher

Portugal

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14230/08:00026226

Organization unit

Faculty of Social Studies

Keywords in English

online communities; internet use; participation; gender; age; Czech Republic

Tags

International impact, Reviewed
Změněno: 16/12/2008 09:36, prof. PhDr. David Šmahel, Ph.D.

Abstract

V originále

In this research paper, we examine the presence and characteristics of online communities in the Czech Republic, with a particular focus on selected socio-demographic (age, gender) and psychological characteristics as well as individual motivations of their participants. According to our findings, about one fifth of Czech Internet users regularly attend at least one online community. There are no significant gender differences in the membership; however, participants differ according to age, with the youngest age groups being the most active in belonging to an online group. We also investigate the question of correlation between the intensity of engagement in online communities, and the quality of their participants' social life in the "offline world" (measured primarily by the number of online/offline friends and the amount of time spent with them or with their families). Finally, we pay attention to the perceived psychological benefits from belonging to an online group. The analysis, which we present as a pioneer study aimed at the Czech Internet users, is conducted using the data from the World Internet Project, which in 2006 surveyed a representative sample of the Czech population (1710 respondents aged 12+).

In Czech

Tento článek zkoumá problematiku existence a charakteristik online komunit v České republice, s důrazem na vybrané sociodemografické (věk, gender) a psychologické charakteristiky a na individuální motivace členů těchto komunit. Z výsledků studie je zřejmé, že pětina uživatelů internetu v ČR pravidelně navštěvuje alespoň jednu online komunitu, přičemž participace je ovlivněna věkem uživatelů. Předmětem výzkumu byla kromě jiného rovněž otázka korelace mezi intenzitou zapojení v online komunitách a kvalitou "reálného" sociálního života participantů. Analýza byla provedena na datech ze Světového projektu o Internetu (2006, reprezentativní soubor 1710 respondentů starších 12 let).

Links

MSM0021622406, plan (intention)
Name: Psychologické a sociální charakteristiky dětí, mládeže a rodiny, vývoj osobnosti v době proměn moderní společnosti
Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR, Psychological and social characteristics of children, youth and families, development of the personality in the time of changes of modern society
1P05ME751, research and development project
Name: Světový projekt o internetu - ČR
Investor: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the CR, World Internet Project – The Czech Republic