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Title:
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SOCIO-TECHNICAL CAPITAL AMONG TWO VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS |
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Author(s):
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Maire Heikkinen |
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ISBN:
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978-972-8924-82-9 |
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Editors:
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Gunilla Bradley and Piet Kommers |
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Year:
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2009 |
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Edition:
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Single |
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Keywords:
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Social capital, socio-technical capital, virtual community, rehabilitation, Multiple sclerosis. |
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Type:
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Full Paper |
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First Page:
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155 |
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Last Page:
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162 |
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Language:
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English |
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Cover:
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Full Contents:
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click to dowload 
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Paper Abstract:
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The combination of Internet, the social sciences and medicine constitute an interesting field for multidisciplinary
research. Internet-based rehabilitation courses for people with a neurological disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), form a
type of virtual communities on the area of health care, where social character of the community arises central. This paper
offers a view of the socio-technical capitals development in a longitudinal study of two Internet courses. It reviews the
situation at the end of the courses and from one to two years after the courses. The community that existed during a
rehabilitation course created an atmosphere of trust and support, and there was a wish to continue the online interaction
between the course participants after the course as well. Reciprocity and trustworthiness can empower people and build
social capital among the participants. Social capital and the Internet together create socio-technical capital. The results
show that in the long run the socio-technical capital will reduce, and the activity will diminish. Reasons for that can be
caused by technology but by the group atmosphere as well. In spite of these results, the community can continue to exist
after the course and give its members empowerment for a long time. |
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