Literature+Review+2+(cont'd)

__Cybergate: A Design Framework and System For Text Analysis of__ __ Computer Mediated Communication __ In order to evaluate the effectiveness of electronic communication, content analysis of computer mediated communication (CMC) must be implemented. CMC text analysis is the analysis of text base modes of CMC. Text analysis of CMC may improve the quality of information being disseminated. An important trend has been the increased use of communities interacting virtually via CMC. Online communities provide priceless support for various business operations including organizational communication, knowledge dissemination, transfer of goods and services, and product reviews. Electronic communities and networks enable companies to access a plethora of information and expertise available across corporate lines. Internet marketplaces allow the efficient transfer of goods and services and offer a medium for consumer feedback equally useful to potential customers and marketing departments. Despite the numerous benefits of CMC it also has its flaws. Two characteristics have proven to be particularly problematic: the lack of control on information quality and the complexity of data present in CMC. Computer-mediated communication text has several unique characteristics that differentiate it from non-CMC documents (e.g., essays, reports, news articles, resumes, research papers). Therefore; this makes the difference between attracting and maintaining an online audience. The following are CMC text characteristics: 1. CMC text is highly interactive
 * Ahmed Abbasi, Hsinchun Chen**

2. CMC text also differs from non CMC documents in regards to its informational composition; web discourse is rich in opinion and emotion related information

3. CMC text and non-CMC documents also differ linguistically. CMC text encompasses a large spectrum of stylistic, genre-based, and idiosyncratic language usage attributable to age, gender, educational, cultural, and contextual differences.

The richness of CMC has brought about the emergence of many types of CMC text analysis. These include analysis of participation levels, interaction, social cues, topics, user roles, linguistic variation, types of questions posed, and responses. CMC text analysis can be broadly categorized as either structural or text-based. Structural features are attributes based on communication topology. These features are extracted solely from message headers, without any use of information contained in the message body. Structural features support activity and interaction analysis. Posting activity related features include number of posts, number of initial messages, number of replies, and number of responses to a particular author’s posts. These features can be used to represent an authors’ social impact. Features used for interaction analysis include the frequency of incoming and outgoing messages. These features are used as input for the construction of social networks based on who is talking to whom. Text features are attributes derived from the message body. In addition to topical information, CMC text is rich in social cues, power cues, and genres. Social cues are elements not related to formal content or subject matter. Examples include self-introductions, expressions of feelings, greetings, signatures, jokes, use of symbolic icons, and compliments. CMC text also contains evidence of power cues; stylistic indicators of one’s position/rank within an organization or online community. Genres are types of writing based on purpose and form (e.g., memos, meetings, reports, etc.). Highly prevalent in CMC, they serve as sources of organizing structures and communicative norms.

Shepherds of Good Hope

Text analysis is a vital method in furthering our understanding of how social networks can double the donor database for the Shepherds of Good Hope. Comprehending the difference between computer mediated communication and non-computer mediated communication increases our ability to attract and maintain our target audience. The article enlightens us on the fact that CMC text is interactive, opinionated and uses language aimed towards a specific age, gender or educational background. We also understand that participation levels correlate with topology (message headers); therefore, we know that in order to engage an audience between 20-30 we must create message headers that would automatically appeal to that specific genre. Monitoring the number of replies to particular message headers provides information on the author’s impact; therefore, assisting with the construction of social networks such as Facebook or Twitter etc…Genres are also an important aspect of CMC text, which is outlining the reason for the message (ie., meeting, event etc..). Genres can be utilized via social networks to assist with the Shepherds of Good Hope’s conquest.