Civic Engagement Partnering Through Service Learning with Curricula James Lawler Pace University March 2004

Outline of Presentation Abstract Background Introduction Focus of Study Research Methodology Analysis of Web-Based Community Implications of Study Conclusion

Abstract Preliminary Analysis of Study Imputes that Implementation of Community Networks that Service Rehabilitating Members of Society Is Facilitated by Distinct Enabling Success Factors of Cohesion, Effectiveness, Help, Language, Relationship and Self- Regulation in Innovation of Supporting Web Sites.

Background Internet Is a Critical Component in Corporate Profit Sector. Corporate Profit Sector Is Cognizant of Importance of Technology and Is Defined as Early Adopters or Early Majority Innovators on the Web.

Background Non-Profit Sector Is Conscious of Importance of Web, but, Constrained More by Financial Limitations than Profit Sector, Is Frequently Defined as Late Majority or Laggards in Innovation on Web.

Background Concern of This Study Is in the Criticality of Community in the Success of Non-Profit Web Sites.

Background Community is defined as a feeling of membership in a group along with a strong sense of involvement and shared common interests … [that] creates strong, lasting relationships … through an engaged and extended exchange of views focused on … [the] shared interests, … [that] contains individual involvement, [and that] can help encourage [disabled citizens] to return to a [non-profit] Web site.

Background Important in Community is the inclusion of Social Capital, defined as networks of relationships that constitute a helpful resource for furnishing members with privileged access to information and to opportunities … and it is positive interactions that happen between members in the network that lead to formation of social capital.

Background Studies in Literature Have Analyzed Fundamental Factors in Design of Successful Web Sites for Disabled Citizens. Few of the Studies Have Analyzed Factors in Successful Implementation of Web Based Community for Rehabilitating Disabled Citizens.

Introduction Study Analyzes Web Based Community of a Community Access Non-Profit Organization in City of New York that Helps Disabled but Rehabilitating Citizens Who Have Mental Health Conditions. Organization Has Been Dislocated and Disrupted by September 11 Disaster and Subsequent Urban Renewal.

Introduction Affiliate Agency of Non-Profit Organization, Club Access, Approached Pace University to Assist Organization in Implementation of Community Web Sites to Help Rehabilitating Citizens. Sites Were Implemented in a Project in a Civic Engagement Course, Web Design for Non-Profit Organizations, by Computer Science and Information Systems Students of University.

Introduction Club Access Community Web Site Figure 1: Club Access Community Web Site About Us Becoming a Club Member Art Gallery Club News Contact Us Calendar of Events Bulletin Board Mission Board of Directors History Locations in City A Day in the Life of a Member Virtual Tour Steps to Membership Frequently Asked Questions Artists Artist Biographies Art Portfolios Art Portfolio Links Art Shows Clubhouse Newsletter Neighborhood Trips Club Chat Links Discussion Forums Word of Mouth

Introduction Project Is Implemented in Conception of a Web Based Community that is Effecting a Social Network that Includes Academic Non-Profit, Community Organization Non-Profit, and Corporate and Public Profit Sector Sites in New York, United States and Internationally.

Introduction Factors Enabling Engagement Success of a Web Based Community: - Cohesion, Element of Design from which Members Have a Feeling of Belonging in Community; - Effectiveness, Element from which Members Have a Feeling of Impact from Community; - Help, Element from which Members Have Help from Community; - Language, Element from which Members Have a Forum for Specialized Languages in Community; - Relationship, Element from which Members Have Interaction and Friendship in Community; and - Self-Regulation, Element from which Members Regulate Their Interactions.

Focus of Study Study Analyzes in Survey and Regression the Significance of Critical Factors of Engagement Success in Web Based Community for Challenged but Rehabilitating Citizens, Applying e-Commerce Factors of Cohesion, Effectiveness, Help, Language, Relationship and Self-Regulation to Club Access as a Case Study.

Research Methodology Club Access Web Based Community Design Community Characteristic Client Engagement Benefits Club Access Web Based Community Constructs Cohesion Effectiveness Help Language Relationship Self- Regulation Members in Need High Intermediate Low Fulfillment Inclusion Influence Shared Emotional Experience Figure 3: Club Access Web Based Community Design

Research Methodology Methodology of Study Analyzed Web Based Community of Club Access in 3 Stages of Analysis: Stage 1 – Preliminary Study - Controlled Sample of Club Access Members in City Surveyed by Attitudinal Questionnaire Survey on Importance of Engagement Factors of Cohesion, Effectiveness, Help, Language, Relationship and Self-Regulation, in High, Intermediate or Low Scale, and Formulation of Hypotheses; Stage 2 – Expanded Sample of Club Access Members in Tri-State and Continued Formulation of Hypotheses (Next Step); and Stage 3 –Final Hypotheses and Statistical Interpretation – Final Study (Next Step).

Preliminary Analysis of Web Based Community Most of Member Sample Indicated High to Intermediate Importance in Cohesion (74%), Help (63%), Effectiveness (58%), Relationship (50%) Factors, but Low Importance in Language (29%) and Self-Regulation (26%) Factors, in Engagement of Members.

Analysis of Web Based Community Study Requires Further Analysis to Test Following Hypotheses: H1. The Higher the Element of Cohesion in Design of Web Based Community for Disabled but Dexterous Members, the Higher the Engagement; H2. The Higher the Help, the Higher the Engagement; H3. The Higher the Effectiveness, the Higher the Engagement; H4. The Higher the Relationship, the Higher the Engagement; and H5. The Lower the Elements of Language and Self-Regulation, the Higher the Importance of Cohesion, Help, Effectiveness and Relationship in Engagement of Members.

Implications of Preliminary Study Findings Imply Design Importance of Cohesion, Effectiveness, Help, Language, Relationship and Self-Regulation Factors, in Heightened Engagement of Dexterous Rehabilitating Disabled Members in Non-Profit Web Based Community. Features of Collaboration Functionality that Are Customized to Felt Needs of Members Facilitate Community Engagement Factors.

Implications of Study Findings Concurrently Indicate Importance of Member Perception in Web Based Community. Members of Club Access Clearly Perceive Benefits in Engagement Factors, Enabled in Design of Art Galleries, Links and Portfolios and Enhanced in Seriousness of Art Shows on Sites.

Implications of Study Other Findings Confirm Benefits of Including Students in Non-Profit Web Based Community. Students Indicated Increased Learning Not Only in Technological Context of Community Web Design, but Importantly in Social Context of Implemented Community Sites. Employees and Managers of Non-Profit Organization Desire Further Interaction with University.

Conclusion Study Identified Success Factors of Cohesion, Effectiveness, Help, Language, Relationship and Self- Regulation as Critical in Community Sites that Help Dexterous Members. Further Empirical Research Is Needed in Advanced Study, In Order to Analyze Factors Not Only for Dexterous Rehabilitating Members, but Also for Non- Dexterous Disabled Members. Study Is Facilitating a New Framework.

Thank You. James Lawler School of Computer Science and Information Systems Pace University