Professional Online Community of Russian Sociologists: Topics of Discussion and Structure of Social Interactions

Abstract

The article regards the topics of discussions and the structure of social interactions in the online professional community of sociologists. Based on the texts of the publications, the authors of the study identify 18 discussion topics and determine the structural type of the online community (“core-periphery”) using the blockmodeling methodology. This allows distinguishing 3 groups of participants: the “core” participants who are is interested in all topics, the “semi-periphery” participants who mostly send invitations to events, and the “periphery” participants interested in the expertise and knowledge of the colleagues. Within the core, there is also a group of participants discussing the topics of professional activity and identity. Core members interact with all members of the online community, including less active members of the group, and can act as an integrating force for the entire professional online community of sociologists.

Acknowledgments. The article was prepared within the framework of the HSE University Basic Research Program.