I am a PhD student examining the relationship between communication patterns and group processes in the diffusion of information through an online community.

I am currently exploring the social networks of virtual world Second Life, which displays unique, emergent social properties reflective of offline social life. Because it's digital, I am able to explore social interaction in ways which real life methods are unable to offer. Using social network analysis and sociometric surveys, my intention is to understand how the hardware of interpersonal ties effects the software of interpersonal interaction.

My avatar's name in Second Life is Mynci Gorky. I keep a reference library in the virtual world, which contains links to over 150 social science cyber-research resources, and is my hub of activity while online. You can visit the Social Simulation Research Lab on Hyperborea by clicking here.

Please explore. If you have any further questions feel free to contact me. You can also find me at MySpace.

a.krotoski+at+surrey.ac.uk