This study examines how a file sharing system affects its users’ sense of community (SOC). It was expected that the file sharing system would increase members’ knowledge about and participation in the file sharing network which, in turn, would increase their SOC. The aim of this study was to identify the barriers that hinder community building in file sharing networks, by examining how use of a specific network – Direct Connect++ (DC++) – affects its users’ SOC. It was our hypothesis and expectation that extended use of file sharing system would increase members’ knowledge about, and participation in, the file sharing network, and this in turn would increase their SOC. However, although DC++ was found to have a number of properties that coincide with the theories of SOC, two barriers were found that hindered DC++ from working as a genuine community. These barriers were related to anonymity and elitism among community members. The findings challenge previous idealistic theories about the development of an SOC but nonetheless demonstrate the positive effects of network membership.
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机译：这项研究研究了文件共享系统如何影响其用户的社区意识（SOC）。期望文件共享系统将增加成员对文件共享网络的了解和参与，从而增加其SOC。这项研究的目的是通过检查特定网络Direct Direct ++（DC ++）的使用如何影响其用户的SOC，找出阻碍文件共享网络中社区建设的障碍。我们的假设和期望是，文件共享系统的扩展使用将增加成员对文件共享网络的了解和参与，从而增加其SOC。但是，尽管发现DC ++具有许多与SOC理论相符的特性，但是发现了两个障碍，阻碍了DC ++成为真正的社区。这些障碍与社区成员之间的匿名和精英主义有关。该发现挑战了以前关于SOC发展的理想主义理论，但仍然证明了网络成员资格的积极作用。
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