The Content of Online University Communities and the Audience’s Reaction to It (the Case of Cherepovets and Vladimir Universities) | South-Russian Journal of Social Sciences
The Content of Online University Communities and the Audience’s Reaction to It (the Case of Cherepovets and Vladimir Universities)
Vol. 24 (2023) No. 1, Sociological Interpretations
Vol. 24 (2023) No. 1
Sociological Interpretations

The Content of Online University Communities and the Audience’s Reaction to It (the Case of Cherepovets and Vladimir Universities)

Sokolov A.V.
Demidov Yaroslavl’ State University
ORCID ID 0000-0002-7325-8374
Mironova S.V.
Demidov Yaroslavl’ State University
ORCID ID 0000-0002-8455-2659
PDF (Russian)
https://doi.org/10.31429/26190567-24-1-110-127
https://doi.org/10.31429/26190567-24-1-110-127

How to Cite Array

Sokolov A.V., Mironova S.V. (2023) The Content of Online University Communities and the Audience’s Reaction to It (the Case of Cherepovets and Vladimir Universities). South-Russian Journal of Social Sciences, 24 (1), pp. 110-127. DOI: 10.31429/26190567-24-1-110-127 (In Russian)
Submission Date 2023-01-16
Accepted Date 2023-02-28
Published Date 2023-05-31

Copyright (c) 2023 Александр Владимирович Соколов, Светлана Владимировна Миронова

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

The article argues the need for content analysis of publications posted in student communities, with the aim to reveal their audience interests and digital behavior patterns. The research presented in this article examines the content of the main VK communities of Cherepovets and Vladimir Universities. The period analyzed was four months, two of which were in the spring school term (March to April) and the other two during the summer vacation time (July to August). The research was based on a comprehensive data collecting and processing methodology. This included content analysis, index analysis, networks analysis and comparative analysis of data on the activities of community managers and their subscribers. As a result, the main themes of posts were established and a classification of posts by content was created. Besides, the dynamics of posting different forms and contents of posts depending on the community and time of publication was revealed, and frequently used and popular content among users was identified. General and specific patterns regarding the digital behavior of users participating in different student communities are illustrated. User involvement in different forms of posts and types of content was calculated, and the proportion of group members viewing the posted content and committing any user reactions (likes, comments, reposts) to it was determined. Conclusions on the characteristics of university communities’ posted content, the way it is presented, and its popularity and frequency of use are drawn by the authors. The data presented will enable the community administrators to adjust their activities in order to attract more Internet audiences and increase user activity, as well as to reach out to students with an information agenda.

Keywords

users, user engagement, student communities, post forms, post content, popular posts

Acknowledgements

The research was carried out with the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation within the framework of the state contract for the Yaroslavl State University research project / R&D project No. FENZ‑2022-0001 “The potential of youth NGOs to consolidate the Russian student population for the country’s development”.

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