Researchers interested in estimating productivity can choose from an array of methodologies, each with its strengths and weaknesses. I evaluate five widely used techniques; two nonparametric, index numbers and data envelopment analysis, and three parametric methods, instrumental variables estimation, stochastic frontiers, and semi-parametric estimation. Using two samples of manufacturing firms ...

This paper presents the first criminological analysis of an online social reaction to a crime event of national significance, in particular the detection and propagation of cyberhate on social media following a terrorist attack. We take the Woolwich, London terrorist attack in 2013 as our event of interest and draw on Cohen’s process of warning, impact, inventory and reaction to delineate a seq...

The rapid growth of the Internet has been accompanied by a growth in the number and types of virtual environments supporting computer-mediated communication. This was soon followed by interest in using these virtual environments for research purposes: the recruitment of research participants, the conduct of research and the study of virtual environments. Early research using virtual environment...

This article builds on a case study of the worldwide online dating site Match.com to develop a theoretical understanding of the place of communication and affect in the information economy. Drawing on theoretical debates, secondary sources, a qualitative survey of dating profiles and an analysis of the features and affordances of the Match.com site, the article argues that internet dating seeks...

Liberal democracies are increasingly considering internet filtering as a means to assert state control over online information exchanges. A variety of filtering techniques have been implemented in Western states to prevent access to certain content deemed harmful. This development poses a series of democratic and ethical questions, particularly when states introduce regulation mandating ISPs to...

The mainstream online news media face accusations of being slow to respond to so-called ‘grassroots’ or ‘citizen’ journalism, which uses the World Wide Web, and in particular blogs and wikis, to publish and promote independent news-related content. This article argues that the adaptation of established news websites to the increasing demand from readers for space to express their views is drive...

the arc costs are assumed to be online parameters of the network and decisions should be made while the costs of arcs are not known. the policies determine the permitted nodes and arcs to traverse and they are generally defined according to the departure nodes of the current policy nodes. in on-line created tours arc costs are not available for decision makers. the on-line traversed nodes are f...

Social media are said to offer seemingly endless ways of connecting with people in a variety of online spaces. The mediated form that such communication takes has re-opened many theoretical debates regarding the status of relationships that are organized and managed online. In this paper we seek to explore these issues through the lens of topological thinking, and particularly through the work ...

This study tested the effects of linguistic qualifiers and intensifiers on the number and types of replies elicited per argument and per challenge posted in online debates. To facilitate collaborative argumentation, thirty-two students (22 females, 10 males) enrolled in a graduatelevel online course classified and labeled their messages as arguments, challenges, supporting evidence, or explanat...