Society Online: Reviews

Wysocki, Diane Kholos. "Book Review: Society Online." Teaching Sociology 33, no 1 (2005): 115-16.

Review Excerpts

"Society Online: The Internet in Context is a great addition to the literature on Internet methodology and communities. Since 1971, when email came into being, the Internet has changed many of our lives. Not only can we conduct research online, we can find social support, medical information, and even meet sexual partners (Wysocki 1998). In order to study this fast growing cultural phenomenon, the Pew Internet and American Life Project began to support research on the social impact of people’s Internet use. As a result of the funded projects Pew learned that “the internet is good for building new communities as well as for deepening existing relationships” (p. xii)." (p. 115)

"I found many aspects of this book to be quite useful. Each of the articles had in-depth methodology sections, so for those who are thinking about a project online, it is not necessary to “reinvent the wheel” as I had to do when I began doing this type of research. This book also tells us about different populations of interest that add to the literature as a way of comparing the results of those who found their respondents online versus those who found them offline. I highly recommend this book for any class on Society and Computers, Sociology of Communities, and even an Honors Introduction to Sociology." (p. 116)