The impact of a computerized conferencing system on the productivity of scientific research communities

Abstract This is a case study of five scientific research communities which used EIES (the Electronic Information Exchange System, a computerized conferencing system) for 2 years. Relying primarily upon the subjective reports of the participating scientists, it describes: (i) increases in ‘connectivity’ (the size and density of the communication networks in which the scientists are embedded); (ii) qualitative changes in the ways in which the scientists think and work; and (iii) reported changes in such productivity-related factors as increases in the available ‘stock of ideas’ and in the availability of references and other information useful in their work.