Date of Award
1-1-2015
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Department
Media, Film and Journalism Studies
First Advisor
Adrienne Russell, Ph.D.
Keywords
Community, Digital technology, Meetup, New media, Psychosocial well-being, Social capital
Abstract
In order to understand the complex relationship between new media and social capital, this thesis explores the lived experiences of individuals who are actively seeking some form of connection through MeetUp.com. Through participant observation, critical discourse analysis, and semi-structured interviews, the findings of this research illuminate the myriad ways in which participation with new media platforms intersects with individuals’ psychosocial well-being through the formation of social capital. While social capital has traditionally been thought about in terms of its different forms, and different benefits, this research furthers the literature by demonstrating that the values of social capital are not limited to their particular manifestations, rather their psychosocial benefits are often indistinguishable from one another. As such, an inductive approach is needed in order to better understand the ways that people evaluate and make meaning from their experiences in MeetUp.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Recommended Citation
Vaughn, Danielle, "MeetUp and Social Capital: Building Community in the Digital Age" (2015). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 672.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/672
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
Rights holder
Danielle Vaughn
File size
69 p.
Copyright date
2015
File format
application/pdf
Language
en
Discipline
Mass communication, Social research, Social psychology