In the real world, we all can--or think we can--determine how trustworthy someone is just by looking them in the eye. WIthin the first few minutes of meeting a new person, we've probably formed a judgement about them and decided the level of trust we'll give them.
When we form a community with these people, successive interactions, teambuilding, and group norms can strengthen this trust. The group may also have ways--subtle or overt--to punish defectors and those who don't respect the established norms.
But how does this all translate into online communities?
When we form new communities in virtual space, with people we haven't met in meatspace, how do we build trust? When they offer information, how can we be confident that it's reliable? If we share information about ourselves, what lets us know that the other group members won't abuse it?
Patricia M. Sobrero, in a 2008 paper in the Journal of Extension, looked at this very problem. When looking at teachers who formed virtual communities of practice, she concluded that the most important method of building this trust is social engagement. Specifically, she highlights the following components:
To anyone who's been part of a close-knit online community, these will make perfect sense. You many recognize some of your own experiences described here. You need community members to buy in to the community mission, to build relationships outside of the narrow focus of shared tasks, and to give up information about themselves in order to demonstrate that they trust others. In short, acting like the trust already exists is what establishes the trust in the first place.
When we form a community with these people, successive interactions, teambuilding, and group norms can strengthen this trust. The group may also have ways--subtle or overt--to punish defectors and those who don't respect the established norms.
But how does this all translate into online communities?
When we form new communities in virtual space, with people we haven't met in meatspace, how do we build trust? When they offer information, how can we be confident that it's reliable? If we share information about ourselves, what lets us know that the other group members won't abuse it?
Patricia M. Sobrero, in a 2008 paper in the Journal of Extension, looked at this very problem. When looking at teachers who formed virtual communities of practice, she concluded that the most important method of building this trust is social engagement. Specifically, she highlights the following components:
- Building relationships,
- Developing identification with the mission of the community, and with the other members,
- Creating a feeling of belonging and mutual respect,
- Openly sharing learning while building on knowledge about the practice,
- Continuing to develop as a community because of meaningful engagement
To anyone who's been part of a close-knit online community, these will make perfect sense. You many recognize some of your own experiences described here. You need community members to buy in to the community mission, to build relationships outside of the narrow focus of shared tasks, and to give up information about themselves in order to demonstrate that they trust others. In short, acting like the trust already exists is what establishes the trust in the first place.