Review: Sonja Utz (1999). Soziale Identifikation mit virtuellen Gemeinschaften – Bedingungen und Konsequenzen [Social Identification in Virtual Communities—Conditions and Consequences]

Abstract

Two studies dealing with the community quality of MUDs (Multi User Domains/Dungeons)—a special group of multiplayer-online-games—are reviewed. The first study focuses on the social identification of the MUD players with their respective MUDs and presents an analysis of the standardized questionnaire data from 217 MUD players and 110 non-players (UTZ 1999). The second study investigates social integration processes within three selected MUDs using participant observation, personal semi-structured interviews and standardized questionnaires with a sample of 40 experienced MUD players (GÖTZENBRUCKER 2001). The studies reveal that MUD-environments do create social cohesion and community both on the level of individual experience and social practice. Membership in virtual communities does not correlate with social isolation or estrangement in the offline-world. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs010341