Paradise Lost? Primary Empathy in Online Communities of Interest and ways of use. by Niki Lambropoulos HCII 05

Online Communities and Social Computing * Las Vegas 26.07.05 – 16:00-18:00

nikilambropoulos.com * Intelligenesis Consultancy

Primary Empathy in Newborns

PARADISE LOST? PRIMARY EMPATHY IN ONLINE COMMUNITIES OF INTERESTAND WAYS OF USE

Niki LambropoulosInteraction Design Consultant, Researcher Intelligenesis Consultancy

http://www.nikilambropoulos.comhttp://www.intelligenesis.eu

http://www.nikilambropoulos.com/

http://www.intelligenesis.eu/



Contents

BACKGROUND Locating Empathy Example of Physical & Online

Communities RESEARCH

The Studies The Results The Conclusions



What is Empathy?Does it exist in Online Communities? Automatic matching of the feelings of the other

person (Fischer, 1980) Between people who identify similarities (Ickes, et

al, 1993) Related to social skills (Goleman, 2004, Lawrence

et, 2004) Discovery of mirror neurons supporting

representations of an Object from a Subject (di Pellegrino et al, 1992; Rizzolati & Arbib, 1998) based on Lipps (1903) and McDugall (1908)

Empathy is widespread in online communities (Preece & Ghozati, 2001)



Emotional Intelligence-Based Theory of Performance (Goleman, 2004) Social Awareness

Empathy Service orientation Organizational awareness

Criteria (role taking – communication skills) comprehends another’s feelings re-experiences the other person’s feelings shares the other person’s feelings help the other to feel better



Self-Organised Learning by Observation in Social contexts (SOLOS online)

C. Public Participation (Self-Actualisation,

Motoric Reproduction - Overt Performances) 1. decision making 2. motoric response3. embedded behaviour

B. Socio-cultural Learning

(Retention Processes)1. retention 2. reflection

A. Active Lurking (Attentional Processes)

1. awareness,

2. Empathy 3. trust

(The Path of the Dragon)

.

VL

LPP



Search for Empathy in Discussions and Use in Human Resources (Goleman, 2004)

EI Competency: Empathy for building bonds and conflict management

Leadership Style: Affiliative Impact On Climate: Highly positive Objective: Create harmony When Appropriate: To heal rifts in a team or

to motivate during stressful times



Example: Shaolin Kung Fu CoI - CoP



Exploratory Study I

Aim: how to participate publicly in an online dialogue?

25,000 users in TakingITGlobal (9-50 years old) Data were taken every week for a month by

observation notes

1st Phase: 13 participants (16-48 years old) 2nd Phase: 6 old and 7 new 3rd Phase: 2 public participants



Exploratory Study I : Results A

Discussion on Peace 5/10/01 – 23/7/03 2 moderators 346 members sent

2,850 messages 97% views 3% replies

Views & Replies 5/01-7/03 (2 years, 2 months & 13 days)

02000400060008000

10000120001400016000

Series1

Series2

Study 1

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Messages

Mem

ber

sMembers



Exploratory Study I : Results B

Levels of Activity

5/10/01 – 23/7/03 57% Low 18% Medium 25% High Potential Uncertain

Study 1 High-Low-Medium Participation

24% H 19% M 57% L

1

2

3



Exploratory Study I : Results D

2/13 (15,3%) developed empathy. These were the ones who decided to

reply to messages



Exploratory Study II: e-Mint E-Mint

BBC Commkit Ladomery Neoone Jindal Tempero Sulake Tuc Lts Exmosis Tagteacher Habbo Bibliotech Chatmoderators and more



Exploratory Study II: e-Mint SNA – Discourse Analysis - Rebecca Role Taking – Communication skills

some of us may not have anything relevant to add and just want to learn

I'll again make a plug for the backbone of any successful community - the members

We build community one person at a time It just means "putting the right person in charge of the right task

and getting out of their way" I don't think our two statements are mutually exclusive some of us don't know how to share with a group It's all okay with me. But I still believe everyone has something to

share ;) Whether they do it or not is another matter... Becs (2% lurker, 98% yacker - that's a welcomed 2% in some circles - heh)

Sometimes, the only way to discover someone's brilliance is to spend time with them one-on-one

* Volunteerism is connected to empathy (Downie, Clark, Clemenston, 2005)



Exploratory Study II: e-Mint SNA – Discourse Analysis - Rebecca Social Network Analysis (SNA) depicts social

relationships (Baroudi, et al., 1986)



Conclusions

The Empathic Leader is true Use the Sensitive Employees – Citizens Build groupz-ware to help and support online

communities based on real time research. The Path of the Dragon: Recognise our

potential and being able to respond (responsible)



Thank you…

For your attention!

Niki Lambropoulos

[email protected]

nikilambropoulos.org

Any questions and/or suggestions?

Photo by Jennifer Risley

Documents

Paradise Lost? Primary Empathy in Online Communities of Interest and ways of use. by Niki Lambropoulos HCII 05