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About the Internet Research Group
The Internet Research Group (IRG) brings together various researchers of the Internet to share information, including theories and methodological approaches, and to provide a forum whereby the exchange of information about researching new media technologies is encouraged. The IRG was established in July 2007 in response to burgeoning interest in the Internet on both a national and international level – from social networking to e-commerce and blogging to community informatics. Several of ICDC 's PhD students are conducting research into the Internet and the Institute was recently awarded Government funding to participate in the World Internet Project (WIP).
Internet Research Group reading list 
Meeting Times and Contact Information
IRG meetings have now concluded for 2008. Please check back later for the schedule of meetings planned for 2009.
Members are welcomed from all disciplines and schools within AUT and beyond.
If you would like to join our mailing list advising of forthcoming presentations please email either Kevin Sherman and Philippa Smith at the Institute of Culture, Discourse and Communication. Also, please contact Kevin or Philippa if you are interested in presenting a topic for discussion to the group.
Kevin Sherman
kevin.sherman@aut.ac.nz
Philippa Smith
philippa.smith@aut.ac.nz
Past presentations
23 October
Dr Dave Parry
School of Computing and Mathmatical Sciences
“Show me what I really want - Fuzzy ontology as a support for search“
One of the biggest challenges for computer scientists in the age of the Internet has been matching what people are looking for, with what they actually write in search boxes and what they understand from retrieved documents. The Author presented a non-technical description of an approach known as fuzzy “ontologies“ that may allow improved representation of the understanding of the semantic content for search engines.
25 September
Krassie Petrova, Senior Lecturer & Programme Leader MCIS, School of Computing and Mathmatical Sciences
and Raymond Huang
“Mobile Internet Deployment Models: The case of New Zealand.“
28 August
Professor Martin Hirst, School of Communication Studies
“Journalism in the Age of YouTube: The impact of digital media technologies on traditional news-gathering practice.“
26 June
Dr Petra Theunissen, School of Communication Studies
“Investigation into the use of technology among different age groups in New Zealand - a communication and sociological perspective'.
22 May 2008
Jennie Swann, Centre for Educational & Professional Development
Jennie gave a presentation of her PhD research into ways of supporting teachers' facilitation of online learning conversations.
27 March 2008
Internet Research Group
At the first IRG meeting of 2008, Robert Wellington of the Faculty of Design and Creative Technology and former AUTEC faculty rep, presented a discussion on "Research Ethics and Online Communities".
In his presentation, he discussed general ethical principles and how they apply in the research of online communities. Topics covered included: recruiting online, voluntary and informed consent, the Treaty of Waitangi, and data collection / research adequacy (a brief coverage of some methodological perils).
To download a copy of his presentation, please click here. Also, for related ethics presentations produced by AUTEC, please click here.
26 July 2007
The World Internet Project
ICDC gained funding in the 2007 Government budget to join a world wide longitudinal survey investigating Internet use - the World Internet Project. At this meeting the New Zealand researchers outlined what was involved in the study and reported back after attending the annual meeting of the WIP international partners, held in Melbourne in 2007. Click here for information about ICDC's New Zealand World Internet Project.
23 August 2007
Kevin Sherman, ICDC PhD Student
"The Search for National Identity in Second Life: Avatar Activities That Suggest National Attachment "
Kevin investigated the notion of virtual national identity through an assessment of the online virtual world, Second Life. This interrogation focused upon preliminary Second Life facts and figures as well as some specific examples of the forms of engagement that are occurring in-world.
29 October 2007
Ian Goodwin, School of English and Media Studies, Massey University
At the Internet Research Group’s final meeting for 2007 former AUT Communications Studies lecturer Dr Ian Goodwin (now at the School of English and Media Studies at Massey University, Wellington) presented a paper entitled: 'Having it all’ is a Dubious Call: The Digital Strategy and our Digital Future.
Dr Goodwin discussed the May 2005 release of The Digital Strategy: Creating Our Digital Future as representing the most significant recent development in New Zealand information and communication technologies (ICTs) policy. In prioritising social inclusion, the Strategy aims to create a 'digital future' for all New Zealanders. It also emphasises the importance of ICTs to creating and accessing diverse cultural content that in turn develops and enhances New Zealand’s national identity. At the same time it develops such distinctive forms of digital cultural content as a significant asset to be 'leveraged' in producing competitive advantage in a global economy. Dr Goodwin suggested that in this way, and in line with the Labour Government’s continuing reliance on 'third way' ideology, the Strategy attempts to seamlessly integrate a diverse and ambitious range of goals: nation building, increasing social inclusion, increasing cultural diversity, and environmentally sustainable economic development. He argued that the third way policy discourses driving this broad agenda, whilst rhetorically seamless, in effect veil conflicts and tensions that fundamentally divide these goals. His paper questioned the extent to which 'increasing cultural diversity' and 'nation building' are complimentary aims; and argued that, in an economic context still dominated by neoliberalism, 'leveraging' digital cultural content for commercial gain is inconsistent with the achievement of social inclusion and cultural diversity.
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