The Internet is a versatile technology that can be interpreted and used in many different ways. IS researchers and practitioners in both the private and public sectors need clearly to grasp the perspectives from which people make sense of the Internet. In this study, we present two contrasting perspectives in which people see and use the Internet—the utilitarian and social participation perspectives. In the utilitarian perspective, people see the Internet primarily as an efficient marketplace and as a convenient source of information. In the social participation perspective, the Internet is seen primarily as a conduit of communication that facilitates social interaction. We argue that these two perspectives represent two distinct modes of thinking that influence people’s decision to use the Internet and the purposes for which they use it. We examine the pervasiveness of these two perspectives in a survey study of a demographically representative sample of approximately 20,000 U.S households. Findings suggest that both the utilitarian and the social participation perspectives play important roles in acceptance and use of the Internet. In particular, we found that income levels affect the perspective in which people make sense of their on-line activities. People of high

ABSTRACT Social isolation is a potent but little understood risk factor for morbidity and mortality, and its negative consequences are most profound among the elderly, the poor, and minorities, some of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. population.A steadily increasing number of people are living alone and are therefore more likely to experience social isolation.We discuss four mechanisms—attractiveness, health behavior, stress, and repair and maintenance—by which perceived social isolation might affect health. Our studies show that neither attractiveness nor health behaviors differ as a function of social isolation, but stress and repair and maintenance do seem to be factors.While socially isolated young adults did not report more frequent everyday stressors, they rated everyday events as more intensely stressful.They were also more likely to report passively coping with stressors, and to show greater vascular resistance, a mechanism of blood pressure control previously associated with passive coping and a risk factor for hypertension. Finally, they exhibited less efficacious repair and maintenance of physiological functioning, including slower wound healing and poorer sleep efficiency.These mechanisms have implications for designing appropriate interventions. We advocate a national health care plan that promotes preventive medicine, recognizes the significance of stress-related disorders, and supports the maintenance of social connections across the life span.

Owing to their complex data structure face-to-face surveys are a typical data collection method for ego-centred social networks. Usually the interviewer is required to handle the list of alters in order to reduce misunderstandings and typing errors and increase the respondents’ motivation. When answering questions about each alter the respondent is given help. Compared to face-to-face or telephone interviews Web data collection can substantially reduce the costs, time, and fatigue in managing the complex questionnaire required for data collection of ego-centred data. Such data collection is especially suitable for special populations familiar with Internet tools. However, particular attention to questionnaire design has to be paid if a respondent is expected to complete a Web questionnaire by him or herself, compiling a list of alters and giving information about them. One trial in the collection of ego-centred networks via the Web was performed during the annual RIS (Research on Internet in Slovenia) Web survey conducted by the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana. Respondents were randomly split into four groups. Each group received a name generator for one type of social support: material, informational, emotional support or social companionship. Each respondent also received a set of questions for each alter they named in the network generator. Data collection was carried out between June and October 2001. The quality of the data was studied with respect to the number of listed alters and by two question wording forms for name generators. The analysis shows that the Web can be used as a data collection method for ego-centred social networks. However, special attention is required when designing the graphic layout of name generators as well as with the wording of instructions. In particular, the number of alters should be limited in some way, since respondents who name many alters tend to quit the questionnaire before answering additional questions regarding these alters.

interpersonal interaction, social resources.

Using the Internet could augment people's social resources, displace everyday communication, compensate for resource gaps, or enhance mood. Using a longitudinal U. S. survey of changes in participants' depressive affect, we tested augmentation, displacement, compensation, and mood enhancement hypotheses. Dominant uses of the Internet--- communicating with family and friends and searching for information---had no impact on depressive affect. Using the Internet to meet people was associated with increased depressive affect overall all and especially among those with high initial social resources, but with reduced depressive affect among those with low initial social resources. Using the Internet for entertainment also was associated with reduced depressive affect. We suggest that individual differences in social resources and choice of Internet uses may account for widely varying reports of Internet social effects. A Social Resources Approach In this article, we examine how the sweeping ...

Background: Women are traditionally over represented among the poor and therefore in the long run, have less access to remuneration and health resources, including health insurance and social security services. Women are disadvantaged on some fundamental economic indicators such as unemployment and access to economic resources. In 2007 in Jamaica, for instance among the 124 500 unemployed persons in the labour force, 65.4 % were women (Planning Institute of Jamaica, 2008). Thus, women's health and the control that they can exercise over resources are key factors in achieving effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability in health interventions. Aims and Objectives: This study examined the good health status of rural women in the reproductive ages of 15 to 49 years. Having extensively reviewed the literature, this paper is the first study of its kind in Jamaica and will provide pertinent information on this cohort for the purpose of public health planning.

Seeking support from their environment is important for people suffering from a depression. People usually have different social networks to which they are attached with different ties. In this paper, a computational model is presented that describes the selection of network members for seeking support based on the strength of the tie to people in the network and personal characteristics. The model has been implemented in a simulation environment. Simulations of different scenarios show that specific personality traits and environmental settings indeed lead to a pattern of social disengagement or a preference for strong or weak tie support. A mathematical analysis proofs that such equilibria are indeed a consequence of the model.

thank Ivan Beale and Patricia Greenfield for helpful comments on earlier versions of this manuscript.

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This article evaluates the quality of instruments for measuring support in social networks. The authors discuss the results of ten experiments designed to analyze the reliability of five measurement scales as well as two measurement methods for listing alters (free recall and recognition), type of network question (original, reciprocated), and characteristics of study design (time between instrument presentations). Analysis shows that the binary scale and the first presentation of measurement instruments are the least reliable. The most reliable were ordinal scales, among which the five-category ordinal scale with labels was the most reliable. The two data collection methods (free recall and recognition) and the two types of network questions (original, reciprocated) yield equally reliable data. Survey data collection is the method used most often in social science research. Data collected by surveys have to be valid and reliable to allow statistical analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of results. Since the middle of the twentieth century when the first systematic analyses of questionnaire design appeared (Rugg and Cantrill 1944; Gallup 1947; Payne 1951), survey