Dissertation

The Research Web:
Asynchronous Collaboration in Social Scientific Research

Charles Sverre Hendricksen

This dissertation was successfully defended in the Summer of 2002. It is the basis for a new way of conducting collaborative research, the Research Web (RW). The RW capitalizes on the communications revolution of the Internet and its undeniably superior medium of representation, the World Wide Web. While not denying the use of synchronous communications, the RW depends on the flexibility of asynchronous communication to provide its users with freedom to schedule their participation. Asynchronous communication also empowers those who choose to reflect on dialog rather than engaging in the rapid turnaround that favors those with language and debating skills. Reflection is needed by those who may not be familiar with the language of discourse. Interdisciplinary research and international research may introduce language not familiar to those who are not from the dominating discipline and non-native speakers.

PDF version   Research Web Essay format (HTML)

Those citing the disseration may use page numbers from the PDF version, it is identical to the dissertation in the stacks at the University of Washington.

The Research Web Essay version uses the highly augmented and annotatable format that documents in the Research Webs are published. I invite responsible annotation of this work. To annotate this version, simply go to the top of the page and click the "Read and Write Annotations" link and follow the simple instructions. From time to time commentary may be incorporated into the text of this version; thus it is not identical to the dissertation as approved.

PDF Version (as published)

Title Page

Abstract

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 -- Introduction

Chapter 2 -- Models, Research process and Collaboration: A Review of Literature

Chapter 3 -- The Research Web

Chapter 4 -- The Tools of the Research Web

Chapter 5 -- Empirical Investigations

Chapter 6 -- Conclusions and Prospects for Research Using Research Webs

References

Research Web Essay Version (under construction)

Table of Contents