Re: Moderating Discussion Groups LO3201

ThosStew@aol.com (john.gancz@cdc.com)
Mon, 16 Oct 95 10:39:34 EDT

Replying to LO3158 --

Andrea Meier <ameier@email.unc.edu> Wrote:
|
| In the past few months, there was a posting on this
| regarding the
| development of a listserv discussion group on issues and
| problems arising
| out of moderating internet groups. I have not heard since
| whether it is
| now up and running.If it is, can someone please send me
| the address?

Allow me to forward a post sent to me which may serve
your needs:

>Date: Fri, 13 Oct 1995 14:48:01 -0400
>From: Interpersonal Computing and Technology <ipct@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu>
>Subject: NEW: NETDYNAM - The Network Group Dynamics Mailing List
>
>From: "Storm A. King" <stormk@netcom.com>
>
>For anyone interested in researching virtual communities.....
>------- FORWARD, Original message follows -------
>Date: Friday, 13-Oct-95 12:04 AM
>From: merkley@databank.com \ Internet: (merkley@databank.com) To:

>NETDYNAM on LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU - Network Group Dynamics
> Mailing List
>
> NETDYNAM is a list dedicated to an examination of online group
> dynamics: the purpose will be to examine the process itself of
> writing through listservers -- perceptions of the other participants,
> the dynamics of flame wars, power and persuasion, what is effective
> communication and why....
>
> This will ideally be done in an atmosphere of mutual support and
> trust but it -- emphatically -- will not be group psychotherapy. The
> purpose of the list will be the search for dynamic principles of
> online mailing lists in general.
>
> The operation of the list will be as open and non-directive as
> possible, based on the Tavistock model of group dynamics projects
> where rules and explicit expectations are initially kept in abeyance
> so that they may emerge, be examined and formulated, spontaneously.
>
> One important advantage of email for this kind of project is that
> every piece of data (piece of email) can be looked at and compiled --
> statistically perhaps -- and participants are encouraged to develop
> testable hypotheses about online group dynamics.
>
> Archives of NETDYNAM mail items are kept in monthly files. You may
> obtain a list of files in the archives by sending the command
>
> INDEX NETDYNAM
>
> in the BODY of e-mail to LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU .
>
> To subscribe, send the following command in the BODY of mail
> to LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU
>
> SUB NETDYNAM yourfirstname yourlastname
>
> For example: SUB NETDYNAM John Doe
>
> Owner: Matthew Merkley, M.D. <MERKLEY@DATABANK.COM>

| Also, I am planning dissertation research using a
| moderated internet
| support group to address burnout and stress resilience
| concerns of
| professional caregivers. My plan is to have a closed
| group, but I have not
| seen any reports about the minimum number of people that
| it takes to keep
| a closed group active. Has anyone had any experience with
| this.?

| Andrea Meier

There is a report that will soon be coming out of a small group
that got together to study the implications of virtual teams on
such things as facilitation and group interaction. With no set
goals at the outset and the reliance on strictly E Mail,
there was still a good level of success with size that
ranged from 8 - 14 people.

The fact that you have a theme at the outset may allow for
a smaller size.

--
John M. Gancz
Sr Bus. Appl. Analyst
AmeriData Global Canada, Ltd.
Data Mgmt Div.