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Professional identity on the Web: Engineering blogs and public engagement

Kedrowicz, April Ann and Sullivan, Katie LU (2012) In Engineering Studies 4(1). p.33-53
Abstract
Blogs offer a space where engineers can engage with public audiences about engineering topics, challenging and surpassing a deficit model of science communication. Communication that is adapted for a broad audience, discusses topics that are socially relevant, and facilitates participation and dialogue is more likely to be engaging. We examined 14 top engineering blogs to see how engineers present themselves and how they communicate with the public. A qualitative content analysis of the communication, with an eye toward professional identity management, uncovered common themes associated with identity and self-presentation, leading to better understanding of how this unique communication genre serves to reinforce, question, and/or... (More)
Blogs offer a space where engineers can engage with public audiences about engineering topics, challenging and surpassing a deficit model of science communication. Communication that is adapted for a broad audience, discusses topics that are socially relevant, and facilitates participation and dialogue is more likely to be engaging. We examined 14 top engineering blogs to see how engineers present themselves and how they communicate with the public. A qualitative content analysis of the communication, with an eye toward professional identity management, uncovered common themes associated with identity and self-presentation, leading to better understanding of how this unique communication genre serves to reinforce, question, and/or challenge popular representations of engineering identities and ideologies. Our analysis shows that despite the potential of blogs to facilitate engagement, engineers' reliance on an engineering style of communication may fail to engage public readers. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
engineers, blogs, identity, engineering communication, public, engagement, deficit model
in
Engineering Studies
volume
4
issue
1
pages
33 - 53
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • wos:000305538600003
  • scopus:84862297003
ISSN
1937-8629
DOI
10.1080/19378629.2011.650641
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
606afcd8-1438-4b0f-829a-17e77dca4bd8 (old id 3008036)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:19:10
date last changed
2022-01-25 22:01:55
@article{606afcd8-1438-4b0f-829a-17e77dca4bd8,
  abstract     = {{Blogs offer a space where engineers can engage with public audiences about engineering topics, challenging and surpassing a deficit model of science communication. Communication that is adapted for a broad audience, discusses topics that are socially relevant, and facilitates participation and dialogue is more likely to be engaging. We examined 14 top engineering blogs to see how engineers present themselves and how they communicate with the public. A qualitative content analysis of the communication, with an eye toward professional identity management, uncovered common themes associated with identity and self-presentation, leading to better understanding of how this unique communication genre serves to reinforce, question, and/or challenge popular representations of engineering identities and ideologies. Our analysis shows that despite the potential of blogs to facilitate engagement, engineers' reliance on an engineering style of communication may fail to engage public readers.}},
  author       = {{Kedrowicz, April Ann and Sullivan, Katie}},
  issn         = {{1937-8629}},
  keywords     = {{engineers; blogs; identity; engineering communication; public; engagement; deficit model}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{33--53}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Engineering Studies}},
  title        = {{Professional identity on the Web: Engineering blogs and public engagement}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19378629.2011.650641}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/19378629.2011.650641}},
  volume       = {{4}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}