Abstract
This PhD thesis by Dr. Terrell Neuage, completed at the University of South Australia in 2002, explores conversational dynamics in online chat rooms. Using Reader-Response Theory, the study analyzes how chat room titles influence user expectations and discourse. The research includes seven case studies, examining interactions in various chat environments, including emergency chat rooms during events like the 1999 hurricane on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. The full thesis is available at the University of South Australia National Library of Australia.
Case Study Abstracts
Case Study 1: Reader-Response Theory in Chat Rooms
This case study applies Reader-Response Theory to analyze chat room interactions. The title of a chat room, similar to a book title, sets expectations for the discourse. However, captured dialogues often deviate from the title's implied topic. The study examines ten chat rooms, noting how users' interpretations of titles influence their participation. For example, large chat servers like Undernet, with over 1,000,000 weekly users in 2002, categorize rooms into areas like Hosted, Featured, and Open Rooms. This case study focuses on an emergency chat room discussing a 1999 hurricane, highlighting the Internet's role in crisis communication.
Note: Additional case studies (2–7) are detailed in the full thesis, available at the University of South Australia. These studies further explore chat room dynamics across various contexts.
Methodology
The methodology employs Reader-Response Theory to interpret chat room interactions. By analyzing user responses to chat room titles and subsequent dialogues, the study investigates how expectations shape online conversations. Data was collected from multiple chat servers, including Undernet, which hosted 68,973 users during a May 2002 observation. The approach combines qualitative analysis of captured dialogues with an examination of chat room structures and user behaviors.
Bibliography
The bibliography includes references to works on conversational analysis, internet communication, and Reader-Response Theory. The complete list is available in the published thesis at the University of South Australia.
Glossary
Key terms related to computer-mediated communication and chat room analysis are defined in the thesis glossary. Examples include "lurking" (observing without participating) and other computer-oriented abbreviations. The full glossary is accessible in the published thesis.