Sense of community in science fiction fandom, Part 2

Comparing neighborhood and interest group sense of community

Bibliographic Data

ID11043959
AuthorsPatricia Obst (0000-0001-7977-7821, Queensland University of Technology, corresponding author), Lucy Zinkiewicz (0000-0002-1861-1673, University of Southern Queensland), Sandy Smith (Queensland University of Technology), Sandy G Smith
Year2002
Volume30
Issue1
Pages105-117
Publication date2002-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Community Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-4392 • E-ISSN: 1520-6629
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/jcop.1053
OpenAlexW2065348990
LanguageEN
Citations received30
References cited35

There is much debate in community psychology literature as to the dimensions underlying the psychological sense of community (PSOC) construct. One of the few theoretical discussions is that of McMillan and Chavis (1986), who hypothesized four dimensions: Belonging, Fulfillment of Needs, Influence, and Shared Emotional Connection. Debate has also emerged regarding the role of identification within PSOC. However, few studies have explored the place of identification in PSOC. In addition, whereas PSOC has been applied to both communities of interest and geographic communities, to date little research has compared a single group's PSOC with a community of interest to their PSOC with their geographic communities. The current study explored PSOC with participants' interest and geographic communities in a sample (N = 359) of members of science fiction fandom, a community of interest with membership from all over the world. Support emerged for McMillan and Chavis' (1986) four dimensions of PSOC, both within participants' PSOC with their geographic communities and with their community of interest, with the addition of a fifth dimension, that of Conscious Identification. All dimensions emerged as significant predictors of overall sense of community in both community types. Participants reported higher levels of global PSOC with fandom than with their geographic communities, a pattern that also emerged across all factors separately. These results, and implications for PSOC research, are discussed. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Construct (python library) · Fandom · Identification (biology) · Media studies · PSoC · Sense of community · Social science · Sociology · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Community Health and Development · Computer Science · Ecology · Homelessness and Social Issues · Psychology · Social Psychology

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