Willingness to self-disclosure in one virtual community

Only abstract. Paper copies of master’s theses are listed in the Helka database (http://www.helsinki.fi/helka). Electronic copies of master’s theses are either available as open access or only on thesis terminals in the Helsinki University Library.Vain tiivistelmä. Sidottujen gradujen saatavuuden voit tarkistaa Helka-tietokannasta (http://www.helsinki.fi/helka). Digitaaliset gradut voivat olla luettavissa avoimesti verkossa tai rajoitetusti kirjaston opinnäytekioskeilla.Endast sammandrag. Inbundna avhandlingar kan sökas i Helka-databasen (http://www.helsinki.fi/helka). Elektroniska kopior av avhandlingar finns antingen öppet på nätet eller endast tillgängliga i bibliotekets avhandlingsterminaler.There are various different kinds of virtual communities which differ in the structure and culture they offer for their users. Both the structures and cultures in online communities are contemporary issues in the study of social media and computer mediated communication. This study is related to one particular virtual community called Paikka auringossa. It is mostly concerned of travelling issues and it is hosted by a Finnish travelling company. The study is based on a survey questionnaire to which 3419 subjects answered within two weeks in November 2009. The data was gathered in Paikka auringossa-community as a web-based questionnaire. The topic is focused on willingness to disclose personal information, in other words, the willingness to reveal details of the self in the community. Additionally, the elements, thought to have an effect to willingness of self-disclosure were explored. The data was analyzed using quantitative methods. The details of self-disclosure were analysed into three distinct components by principal component analysis. The effects of basic demographics, experience from social media and the adapted items from technology acceptance model on self-disclosure were investigated with several analysis of variance. The users of Paikka auringossa –community were most willing to disclose travelling information of themselves. Also, the users felt it was most important to know travelling related information of other users before contacting them. All the chosen elements affected significantly on willingness to disclose information in at least one of the previously mentioned components although the effect sizes were small. The most central references:. Whitty, M., Joinson, A.. Truth, Lies and Trust on the Internet (2009), Konijn, E., Utz, S., Tanis, M., Barnes, S. Mediated Interpersonal Communication (2008)., Smith, B., Alvarez-Torres, M.J., Zhao, Y.. Features of CMC technologies and their impact on language learners’ online interaction (2003)., Porter, E. A Typology of Virtual Communities: A Multi-Disciplinary Foundation for Future Research (2004),Teo, T., Lim, V., Lai, R.. Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in Internet usage (1999)