Space planning has been central to the design of PowerGen′s newheadquarters near Coventry. Reports on complex computer simulationswhich have been used to help design a building…
Abstract
Space planning has been central to the design of PowerGen′s new headquarters near Coventry. Reports on complex computer simulations which have been used to help design a building which rivals the SAS building in Stockholm for spatial integration. To make sure that the building reaches its potential, a set of space‐planning guidelines have been issued to representatives of the 38 business units which are moving there in January 1995.
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Áine Dunne, Margaret‐Anne Lawlor and Jennifer Rowley
The purpose of this paper is to explore why young people use and participate in social networking sites (SNSs) with specific reference to Bebo.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore why young people use and participate in social networking sites (SNSs) with specific reference to Bebo.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative approach is employed in this paper with a view to exploring the uses and gratifications (U and G) that girls aged 12‐14 years, both seek and obtain from the Bebo SNS. The research is conducted in a school setting in Ireland.
Findings
The findings indicate that the participants are actively using Bebo for their own personal motives and gratifications in terms of presenting and managing a certain identity and persona in a social context. Furthermore, the relatively impersonal nature of the online environment is seen to especially facilitate the young participants in negotiating the practicalities and difficulties that can arise offline, in terms of forging identities and managing relationships.
Originality/value
U and G theory has attracted criticism in terms of a perceived limitation that it only serves to offer lists of reasons as to why audiences attend to the media, and furthermore, a perception that much of the extant U and G research has desisted from discerning between gratifications sought (GS) and gratifications obtained (GO). This paper affirms the appropriateness of the U and G theoretical approach in the context of online research. The authors conclude that SNS such as Bebo facilitate the participants in this paper in executing personal aims (for example, identity creation and management) with a view to obtaining certain gratifications (for example, peer acceptance). Therefore, a clear distinction but inextricable link is demonstrated between the GS and GO from participating in SNS.