[Air-l] request for help finding an article

[Marj Kibby]

It is on the shelf in our library (Newcastle Australia) if you can't get one closer to home.

This article is online:

Whatever Happened to Critical Mass Theory? A Retrospective and Assessment 
Authors: Oliver P.E. 1; Marwell G. 1 
Source: Sociological Theory, Volume 19, Number 3, November 2001, pp. 292-311(20) 

Abstract:

Between 1983 and 1993 the authors published a series of articles and a book promulgating and explicating "Critical Mass Theory," a theory of public goods provision in groups. In this article we seek to trace the growth, change, or decline of the theory, primarily through an analysis of all journal citations of the theory. We find that the majority of citations are essentially gratuitous or pick a single point from the theory, which may or may not be central to the theory. However, we identify four lines of theorizing that creatively use substantial parts of Critical Mass Theory in their own development: (1) theories relevant to issues in communication studies such as interaction media and shared databases; (2) Macy's work on adaptive learning models; (3) Heckathorn's models of sanctioning systems; and (4) theories that are centrally concerned with issues of influence in collective goods processes. A few additional, less- developed lines of work are also discussed. None of this work identifies itself as being itself "Critical Mass Theory," but many of the innovations and assertions of the theory are important bases for its development.

Marj



Dr Marjorie Kibby, 
Assistant Dean, Curriculum, Teaching and Learning
Student Academic Conduct Officer
Senior Lecturer in Communication & Culture
Faculty of Education and Arts
The University of Newcastle,  Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia
Marj.Kibby at newcastle.edu.au
+61 2 49216604
>>> mimold at gmail.com 09/14/05 7:04 AM >>>
Hello everyone,
I've been trying really hard to find a copy of the following article