Virtual healthcare communities are incorporating social network features to motivate more participation. Using the lens of social identity theory, this study looks at how the social network structure of virtual healthcare communities influences participation via social identity. In specific, the effect of cognitive, emotional and evaluative components of social identity are investigated. Uncert...

This paper studies the effect of social-role identity salience in social networks on user participation in an online community that facilitates user rating, reviewing and discussing of cultural products. Drawing on previous literature on social preference, we develop a model demonstrating how the salience of friendship identity changes equilibrium participation behaviour. Predictions are tested...

After decades of epidemiological exploration into individual-level risk factors for ill health, a recent surge of interest in the health effects of socially patterned attributes of geographically defined 'places' has given the structural side of the agency-structure debate new prominence in population health research. Utilizing two original data sets, one pertaining to features of communities i...

The rapid advances of information and communication technologies (or ICTs) and the mass online participation have increased the expectations for the long awaited visions of e-participation and e-democracy. However, there are still many challenges that need to be addressed related to privacy, data ownership and control, and various types of digital divides. Perhaps the most fundamental requireme...

social system based on mutual trust among members continues to exist. social trust in modem era is more important than earlier periods. subject of current report is focused on the trust of iranian students in different aspects. main question in this investigation is about social-political trust of these students (based on trust in islamic republic of iran) at the past and present. this matter e...

this article contends that legitimacy in the exercise of power comes from the consent of those subject to it. in global health, this implies that the participation of poor country citizens is required for the legitimacy of major actors and institutions. but a review of institutions and processes suggests that this participation is limited or absent. particularly because of the complex political...

despite all attractions of social participation in most parts of the rural development, due to the lack of practical approaches, it has just remained an advertising slogan. one of the necessities of rural development is the execution of plans which enjoy maximum social acceptance. one of these plans is locating and equipping high-order service settlements. using an operative process including e...