Group polarization in virtual communities: The case of stock message boards

Chen, Hsuanwei Michelle

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/36051 Copy

Description

Title

Group polarization in virtual communities: The case of stock message boards

Author(s)

Chen, Hsuanwei Michelle

Issue Date

2013-02

Keyword(s)

• Virtual communities
• Polarization
• Social comparison theory
• Persuasive arguments theory
• Online social networking
• Information systems
• Social and community informatics
• Online social networks--Sociological aspects
• Social groups--Psychological aspects

Abstract

This study examines group polarization, the phenomenon that group members tend to become more extreme in their decisions after group discussions, in the setting of virtual communities, specifically on stock message boards. In this paper, I propose two factors – group size and discussion thread length – to introduce the group polarization theories, social comparison theory (SCT) and persuasive arguments theory (PAT), respectively, to virtual communities. I examined the effects that group size and thread length have on group polarization, which is measured by forum participants’ sentiments. The findings suggest that group size has a significant effect on group polarization. The result of thread length, however, is mixed: the effect of thread length depends on the degree of posting activity on the message board. The analysis and findings echo prior literature, in which SCT and PAT are claimed to serve as two key mechanisms that drive group polarization.

Publisher

iSchools

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/36051

DOI

https://doi.org/10.9776/13174

Copyright and License Information

Copyright © 2013 is held by the authors.Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

Owning Collections