Pearce (2011)

Source Details

Pearce (2011)
Title:	Convergence Through Mobile Peer-to-Peer File Sharing in the Republic of Armenia
Author(s):	Pearce, K. E.
Year:	2011
Citation:	Pearce, K. E. (2011). Convergence through mobile peer-to-peer file sharing in the Republic of Armenia. International Journal of Communication, 5, 511-528.
Link(s):	Definitive , Open Access
Key Related Studies:	Atkin (2002) Herring (2006) Taylor and Harper (2002) Wei (2008) Wirth, von Pape and Karnowski (2008)
Discipline:	L63: Microelectronics • Computers • Communications Equipment L86: Information and Internet Services • Computer Software O33: Technological Change: Choices and Consequences • Diffusion Processes P2: Socialist Systems and Transitional Economies
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About the Data
Data Description:	Semi-structured interviews with Armenian citizens (n = 25: 15 female and 10 male, ages 16–40) were conducted through the spring and summer of 2008. Participants were recruited using a snowball sampling technique. Individuals were first approached in public cafes and parks and, second, esearch assistants were used to recruit participants from the university cafeteria.
Data Type:	Primary data
Secondary Data Sources:
Data Collection Methods:	Ethnography Semi-Structured Interview
Data Analysis Methods:	Qualitative Analysis Methods Textual Content Analysis Ethnographic/narrative analysis
Industry(ies):	Software publishing
Country(ies):	Armenia
Cross Country Study?:	No
Comparative Study?:	No
Literature review?:	No
Government or policy study?:	No
Time Period(s) of Collection:	2008
Funder(s):

Abstract

Armenians are adopting personal computers and the Internet more slowly than are individuals in neighboring and more economically developed countries. However, mobile phone usage is rapidly expanding. The reasons for this pattern of information and communications technology adoption may be cultural, political, or economic, but the delay in some technological access also, paradoxically, fosters creativity. Through peer-to-peer content sharing via mobile devices, the consumption and exchange of digital content has become quite common. Indeed, these uses of the mobile phone exemplify convergence, the integration of digital audio, video, text, and data, as well as a social change in the way media circulates. Ethnographic research and interviews conducted in Armenia during the spring and summer of 2008 examine how, by whom, and what types of digital content are being socially shared through mobile devices. Theoretical possibilities to explain the social utility of this phenomenon are presented as well.

Main Results of the Study

• The absence of other ICTs (PCs and the Internet in particular) which have traditionally led the way for digitalized content consumption and sharing, and the arrival of multimedia phones in Armenia have created a situation in which device convergence enables media convergence. The social harmonious nature of Armenian society may influence this convergence.

• Armenian social structures related to social capital and social maintenance are also relevant to understanding social sharing. Social capital is the individual and social resources developed and made accessible through relationships and interpersonal trust among individuals in a social network.

• Armenia’s challenging political situation has created an interesting use of mobile multimedia through peer-to-peer file sharing that may be used in other heated political situations. While it remains to be seen if motivations for the use of entertainment content have any relationship to motivations for the use of political information content, the skill involved in receiving, viewing and sharing the content and the political contexts for sharing otherwise censored information are there.

Policy Implications as Stated By Author

Further study of the motivations and social implications of peer-to-peer file sharing via mobile devices is recommended, as this will be an important contribution to the study of both smart phones and the adaptation of devices. In addition, the ways in which social capital manifests itself within a socially harmonious society (and whether this harmony-oriented culture is a traditional value compounded by socialism or is a value born from socialism) is also an interesting topic for further examination.

Coverage of Study

Coverage of Fundamental Issues

Issue	Included within Study
Relationship between protection (subject matter/term/scope) and supply/economic development/growth/welfare
Relationship between creative process and protection - what motivates creators (e.g. attribution; control; remuneration; time allocation)?
Harmony of interest assumption between authors and publishers (creators and producers/investors)
Effects of protection on industry structure (e.g. oligopolies; competition; economics of superstars; business models; technology adoption)
Understanding consumption/use (e.g. determinants of unlawful behaviour; user-generated content; social media)

Coverage of Evidence Based Policies

Issue	Included within Study
Nature and Scope of exclusive rights (hyperlinking/browsing; reproduction right)
Exceptions (distinguish innovation and public policy purposes; open-ended/closed list; commercial/non-commercial distinction)
Mass digitisation/orphan works (non-use; extended collective licensing)
Licensing and Business models (collecting societies; meta data; exchanges/hubs; windowing; crossborder availability)
Fair remuneration (levies; copyright contracts)
Enforcement (quantifying infringement; criminal sanctions; intermediary liability; graduated response; litigation and court data; commercial/non-commercial distinction; education and awareness)

Datasets

Sample size:	25
Level of aggregation:	Individual
Period of material under study:	2008