Beyond the FAQ: Explicit and implicit norms in Usenet newsgroups

• Published in: Library & information science research Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 333 - 351
• Main Authors: Burnett, Gary, Bonnici, Laurie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.01.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Discussion groups; Internet; Newsgroups; Social aspects; Sociology; Sociology of communication and mass media. Sociolinguistics; Sociology of knowledge and sociology of culture; Usenet; User behaviour; Virtual communities; World Wide Web; Self-consciousness; Social norm; Behaviour; Social Integration; Merton (R. K.); Theory; Discussion Group; Social Interaction; Internet; Virtual community; Socialization
• ISSN: 0740-8188; 1873-1848
• DOI: 10.1016/S0740-8188(03)00033-1

Drawing on reference group and socialization theories, this article examines the social norms of online communities. These theories are modified through an examination of the history of Usenet and a review of the scholarly literature related to social norms and normative behavior in Usenet newsgroups and other virtual communities. The article proposes a modification of Merton's paradigmatic division of norms into behavioral and attitudinal norms by dividing social norms found in online interactions into two types: explicit norms and implicit norms. Explicit norms are codified in documents such as FAQs that outline the purpose and rules of a group, whereas implicit norms are those norms that emerge informally through day-to-day interactions of the group. Both categories of norms are examined in two specific newsgroups.