Open AccessPatientsLikeMe: Social norms and information values in an online health support group
Author(s) -
Burnett Gary,
Lustria Mia Liza A.,
Cortese Juliann,
Kazmer Michelle,
Frost Jeana,
Kim JiHyun,
Ma Jinxuan
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
proceedings of the american society for information science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1550-8390
pISSN - 0044-7870
DOI - 10.1002/meet.2009.1450460370
Subject(s) - asynchronous communication , qualitative analysis , group (periodic table) , psychology , content analysis , qualitative research , applied psychology , internet privacy , social psychology , computer science , sociology , telecommunications , social science , chemistry , organic chemistry
Reports on a qualitative study of an asynchronous discussion forum hosted by PatientsLikeMe (PLM), an online community supporting 2,300 patients with chronic diseases like ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Examines selected posts marked as “of particular interest” by the researchersas the basis of an analysis of the PLM group's social norms and information values, as reflected by the content of participants' posts.