Social Capital Modeling in Virtual Communities: Bayesian Belief Network Approaches

by Ben Daniel

Overview

Throughout history, the permeation of new technologies have assisted communities in their aim to collectively work together in addressing shared problems for the attainment of specific goals and outcomes. Social Capital Modeling in Virtual Communities: Bayesian Belief Network Approaches broadly examines what constitutes social capital in geographical communities and offers an in-depth description of its potential in virtual communities. Providing the latest findings for advanced undergraduate and graduate students as well as researchers and academicians involved with virtual communities and social capital, this book draws upon insights from interdisciplinary fields such as artificial intelligence, human computer interaction, educational technology, and economics and sociology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781605666631
Publisher:	IGI Global
Publication date:	05/31/2009
Series:	Premier Reference Source
Pages:	284
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 10.30(h) x 0.90(d)

Table of Contents

Foreword ix

Preface xiii

Acknowledgment xxi

Section I Theory and Application of Social Capital

Chapter I The Roots of Communities and Social Capital 1

Introduction 1

Early Work on the Concept of Community 2

Modern Meaning of a Community 4

Social Capital and Community Connectivity 6

The Origin of the Notion of Social Capital 7

Social Capital in Virtual Communities 10

Bayesian Belief Network and Modelling of Social Capital 11

Conclusion 13

References 14

Endnote 17

Chapter II Conceptual and Theoretical Foundations of Social Capital 18

Introduction 18

The Classical Economic Capital 19

Cultural Capital 21

Human Capital 22

Natural Capital 23

Social Capital and Other Forms of Capital 24

Conceptualising Social Capital 25

Dimensions of Social Capital 26

Types of Social Capital 30

Conclusion 39

References 40

Chapter III Social Capital Use-Case Application Areas 43

Introduction 43

Modern Application of Social Capital 44

Conclusion 53

References 55

Endnotes 57

Chapter IV Approaches for Measuring Social Capital 58

Introduction 58

Measurement Social Capital Conceptual 59

Current Approaches for Measuring Social Capital 59

Social Network Analysis 63

Content Analysis 67

Sources of Social Capital 68

Indicators of Social Capital 69

Conclusion 70

References 72

Endnote 74

Chapter V Trust and Social Capital 75

Introduction 75

The Nature of Trust 75

Trust and Awareness 81

Sources of Trust 83

Measuring Trust 84

Measuring Social Capital in Terms of Trust 85

Main Challenges of Building Trust in Virtual Communities 86

Conclusion 87

References 89

Section II Social Computing and Virtual Communities

Chapter VISocial Computing and Social Software 93

Introduction 93

Historical Development of the Network Communication Media 94

The Intermission of the World Wide Web 95

The First Generation of the Web 98

The Second Generation of the Web 99

The Third Generation of the Web 107

The Fourth Generation of the Web 108

Social Computing and Social Software 110

Conclusion 118

References 120

Chapter VII Virtual Communities 122

Introduction 122

Historical Overview of Virtual Communities 123

Types of Virtual Communities 129

Common Use-Cases of Virtual Communities 137

Conclusion 150

References 151

Endnotes 155

Chapter VIII Knowledge Sharing in Virtual Communities 156

Introduction 156

The Nature of Knowledge 156

Knowledge Networks and Basic Related Concepts 159

Knowledge Sharing in Virtual Comunities 161

Social Capital and Knowledge Sharing 164

Conclusion 165

References 166

Section III Computational Modelling

Chapter IX Foundations of Social Modelling 169

Introduction 169

Foundation of Computational Modelling 170

The User Modelling Approach 173

Two Main User Modelling Research Perspectives 174

Modelling Scenarios 179

Conclusion 180

References 181

Chapter X Overview of Bayesian Belief Network 182

Introduction 182

Bayesian Statistic and Probablity Theory 184

Graphical Models 186

What is a Bayesian Belief Network? 186

Application of Bayesian Belief Networks 190

Conclusion 192

References 193

Chapter XI Construction of Bayesian Models 195

Introduction 195

Simplifying the Construction of Bayesian Models 196

Construction Phases of a Bayesian Belief Network 198

Conclusion 204

References 205

Section IV Computational Model Of Social Capital

Chapter XII A Computational Model of Social Capital 208

Introduction 208

Fundamental Components of Social Capital 208

Challenges 222

Conclusion 224

References 224

Chapter XIII Sensitivity Analysis 226

Introduction 226

Overview of Sensitivity Analysis 226

Sensitivity Analysis of Social Capital 228

Conclusion 229

References 230

Chapter XIV Model Validation 231

Introduction 231

Procedures for Validating Model 231

Validating a Bayesian Model 232

Validating the Model of Social Capital 233

Trust and Social Capital 234

Awareness and Social Capital 235

Engagement 236

Social Networking and Shared Identity 237

Shared Understanding 238

Social Protocols 238

Conclusion 239

References 240

Chapter XV Conclusion, Book Limitations and Future Directions 242

Introduction 242

Communities and Social Capital 243

Social Capital in Virtual Communities 244

Utility of Bayersian Modelling in Social Systems 246

Conclusion and Future Directions 247

Book Limitations 249

Final Thoughts 250

Appendix 252

About the Author 255

Index 256