Possible Group Research Essay Topics
Sociology 4J3: Sociology of Cyberspace Instructor: Carl Cuneo, KTH-608

This is only a suggestion of possible topics to research. It is expected that information and data for the essays will come from a variety of Internet electronic and hard copy library sources.

1. Virtual Communities:
   1. What are the differences in social relationships on the Internet and conventional, face to face relationships? Are are the norms of social intercourse different? What role is played by body language?
   2. Why do people communicate via the Internet? Do they do so for business, work, education, or leisure time reasons? Why would people communicate via the computer when they can do so more immediately in face to face relationships?
   3. Conduct a case study of a topical listserv, usenet discussion group, or talker archive. What are the purposes, forms, content, difficulties, and results of communications on the Internet using this particular utility or group?
2. Culture
   1. How is the Interent reshaping what we mean by culture, or the dailing living habits of people? Use some case examples. What implications does this have for individuals, organizations, and society?
   2. What are the main trends in the convergence of computers and television? What social implications do these have for families, schooling, work, and leisure activity?
   3. What are the social characteristics of people who play video games, such as Nintendo and Sega? What effects do they have on family life?
3. Gender
   1. Taking a women's or a men's internet discussion group as a case study, what are the main topics debated and the reasons for participation by users? How are the form and content of the debate similar to or different from conventional face to face relationships?
   2. Why has there been such a growth in Internet pornography? What are the characteristics of the 'industry' and how is it being regulated? You may wish to analyse a pornography site as a case study.
   3. There has been considerable discussion of the male-centeredness of the Internet, and the exclusion of women from the Internet. Gather and consider the evidence in light of recent changes. Do women and men participate differently? What consequences does this have for the organization of the Interenet, social, business, and goverenment policies and practices, and for participation by individuals?
4. Work
   1. What are the main characteristics of telework? What are its advantages and disadvantages, problems and solutions? How does it affect the organization of work, especially on Intranets?
   2. How are trade unions using the Internet to conduct their business and as a vehicle for political protest? You may wish to use one of the listservs, such as Labor-L, as a case study.
5. Education
   1. How has the Internet changed the way in which teaching and learning are conducted? Since this is a large topic, you may want to specialize in one area such as: student access to new technologies; the rise of private commercial vendors of courses on the internet; the effectiveness of technology as a tool for learning; the financial implications of the introduction of computers in classrooms and learning; the changing role of students and teachers in computer-mediated learning; etc.
6. Government
   1. How have world governments begun to use the Internet in the conduct of their functions? (e.g. in the provision of services and information, etc.) How is this changing the nature of government, and the role of the electorate and citizens?
   2. How are governments attempting to regulate the internet? What are the problems and difficulties of doing so? What content areas are the targets for regulation? Which groups support and oppose this? Why?
   3. Is the Internet a vehicle for democratic participation in government decision making, or is it a medium for the extension of government control over citizens? Use one or more case studies.
   4. What role do community organizations, such as public libraries, activist organizations, and freenets, have on the Interent?
7. Business
   1. How has the increasing presence of businesses on the Net changed the form and content of the Internet? (e.g. increasing commercialization, privatization, control?)
   2. What effect does the Internet have on businesses and corporations? (how business is conducted; the size, nature of markets, etc)
   3. What effect does the business participation on the intenet have on privacy considerations? What is the debate over this issue? Use some case studies.

Readings:

The literature in this web site is available in either hard copy or on the internet. The Web version of this course outline contain hyperlinks to resources accessible via mouse clicks. Books and resources are included to help students get a start in doing their major research projects. A handful of books has been ordered through the bookstore, and are on reserve in Mills library, and qualify for the critical book review assignment. They are marked with the icon: . Students cannot hope to cover such a large field in one course. At best, students will be able to become experts in one or two areas. The material listed below is merely suggestive, or is the tip of the iceberg, of a burgeoning field of study which is of increasing importance to society.