Anatoliy Gruzd|Caroline Haythornthwaite
Enabling Community Through Social Media
Dalhousie University|University of British Columbia
social network analysis provides perspective method inquiring structures comprise online groups communities traces interaction via social media provide opportunity understanding community formed maintained onlinethe paper aims demonstrate social network analysis provides vocabulary set techniques examining interaction patterns via social media using case hcsmca online discussion forum paper highlights gained approaching online community social network perspective well providing inside look structure hcsmca communitysocial network analysis used examine structures 1month sample twitter messages hashtag hcsmca 3871 tweets 486 unique posters tag associated social mediasupported group health care social media canada network connections considered present individual mentioned replied post retweetednetwork analyses revealed patterns interaction characterized community comprising one component set core participants prominent network due connections others analysis showed social media health content providers influential group based indegree centrality however preferential attachment among people professional group indicating formation connections among community members constrained professional statusnetwork analysis visualizations provide techniques vocabulary understanding online interaction well insights help understanding comprises sustains network whether community emerges network online interactions