本研究旨在描繪出一種新的虛擬社群樣貌一採集式社群。相對於過去特定主題、長時間觀察描述以及小範圍的研究，本研究選擇了全國流量最大的網域雅虎奇摩中綜合式的的主題討論群--奇摩家族作為研究對象。研究者以自身七年的重度參與經驗出發，由Komito所提出的採集社會特質社群提供啟發，納入Weliman的社會網絡分析以及Granovetter的弱連結理論，認為一般線上討論區所形成的虛擬社群，應該是具有採集社會特性的一參與度低、期待不高、人際連結弱而認同感低，但又處於人人平等的社會之中。 研究結果發現，奇摩家族成員的參與度雖低但期待屬中高程度，人際連結弱但認同感中上，同時，參與歷史越久，社會平等感、參與度以及認同感亦隨之愈高，但期待與人際關係強度並不隨參與歷史長短而有所差別。調查結果亦顯示成員流動性高，但回答自己曾離開社群╱家族的人並不多。這樣的結果可能顯示，虛擬社群成員所謂的認同感與一般組織認同所定義的並不相同，也許繼續留在家族之中，雖然參與度很低，但仍是認同這個團體的。另外，研究結果亦呈現眾多「普通」與「無意見」的情形，除了這是個針對一般虛擬社群一般成員所進行的一般調查所可能導致的情形外，台灣人特性的文化脈絡，以及本研究的採集式社群定義方式都值得再加以討論。

人脈理論相關的文獻,尤以 Granovetter(1973)提出非常優雅的「弱連結 (weak tie)」一詞最為經典,他的論文發現經由弱連結介紹新工作的成功率高於 強連結,同時提出弱連結相較於強連結(strong tie)更多元,因此弱連結對宏觀世 界的效益必大於強連結。而後 Rogers(2006)也在創新的擴散中提出弱連結應 該屬於異質性連結,強連結則屬於同質性的連結,異質性不容易連結卻對擴散的 影響更大。因此本研究的動機將以弱勢的創業家為研究對象,探討弱連結擴散的 動機與擴散方法,並回答研究問題弱連結的擴散效益為何? 本研究發現弱連結的脆弱並不全然是異質性不易溝通之故,因為弱連結與強連結最大的不同是強連結靠關係遠近產生連結,弱連結則是自願性的連結居多,因此創業家的創夢才是真正點燃連結的起源,此外弱連結的橋樑特質是喜好轉介稀有性消息,產生消息經濟的效益而達到更廣泛的連結,因此研究者認為弱連結應用於創新擴散將有三點效益,第一點是弱連結因為自發性動機與可被信任的第三方而提高傳遞意願,第二點是弱連結以泛泛之交居多,他們喜好轉介稀有性消息,因此提高傳送廣度,最後發現所謂的六度分隔除了代表差異性人脈將造成平 均為六的結果外,也代表著六個人脈圈,本研究因此發現第一度的人脈差異將影 響網際網路時代的小世界接受率。 而對於創業家以弱連結來進行創新擴散,研究者認為實務上建立異質性創業 團隊將有助於進入不同特質的弱連結樞紐區,此外創業家勇於發表創夢的想法, 其心態越開放也有助於凝聚弱連結,因此創業家可以藉由社群網站或部落格等媒 體建立自行發聲的管道,將有助於幫助創業家位於樞紐中心,強化擴散的能力。 研究者在回顧文獻後也發現,弱連結在開放式網絡下的橋樑特質與效益被後來學 者忽略,同時隨著網際網路興起帶來多元的媒體與開放式人際關係,研究者認為 將更有助於觀察弱連結對創新擴散的幫助,本研究觀察 Apps 產業裡 Bonnie’s Brunch 個案後,經由八位訪談者與半年的網路社群媒體追蹤的結果,發現弱連 結的橋樑功能是資訊的聚集處,也是連結的捷徑,因此擁有對的連結的確是很重要的事,但是弱連結卻未必時常擔任善意的陌生人,因此弱連結的連結困難在於弱連結的自願性動機,因此研究者在理論貢獻部分提出弱連結的力量來源為自願性的動機,這股隱性的力量唯有受到單純動機的點燃才能爆發出來,因此創業家成功的方程式還有一項無法被操控的弱連結影響力,唯有創業家經過長期的耕耘,持續提供資訊交換,才能與弱聯結維繫關係。 / Among the personal network theory related literatures, the elegant term “weak tie” proposed by Granovetter(1973) is the most classic theory. His thesis paper finding shows that the success rate of introducing new jobs through a weak tie is higher than that of a strong tie. Hence, he believes that as the macroscopic view of the world’s weak tie is more diverse than the strong tie, the benefits produced after creating the tie are definitely greater than the strong tie. Rogers (2006) later proposed in diffusion of innovation that the weak tie is the tie of heterogeneity, while the strong tie is the tie of homogeneity. Heterogeneity does not easily produce a tie, but it has a greater impact on diffusion. Therefore, the weak tie diffusion motivation and diffusion method were explored in this study, and the research problem, i.e., the diffusion benefits of the weak tie, was answered. It was found in this study that the vulnerability of the weak tie is not entirely due to the communication difficulty of heterogeneity, because the greatest difference between the weak tie and strong tie lies in the fact that strong ties produce ties depending on the distance of a relationship, while weak ties are generally voluntary ties. Hence, entre- preneurs’ building of dreams is the actual source that triggers ties. In addition, the weak tie bridge is characterized by a preference to prefer rare news, Newsonomics, and achieve more extensive links. Thus, the researcher believes that there are three benefits when the weak tie is applied in diffusion of innovation. First, the weak tie enhances the willingness to convey messages due to its own voluntary motivation and trustworthy third party. Second, weak ties are generally formed by acquaintances. They prefer to refer rare news, thus the broader conveyance. Lastly, it was found that the so-called six degrees not only represents differential personal networks that result in the outcome of six on average, but also represents six network circles. It was therefore found in this study that the first-degree personal network will affect the small world acceptance rate in the Internet age. As for entrepreneurs, they engaged in diffusion of innovation through weak ties. The researcher believes that, in practice, the establishment of the entrepreneurial team of homogeneity is conducive to entry into weak tie hubs of different characteristics. In addition, entrepreneurs had the courage to express their ideas about building dreams, and their open-mindedness also contributed to the gathering of weak ties. Hence, it is suggested that entrepreneurs establish channels to voice themselves through communi- ty networks, BLOG, and other medias, which will help them stay in the hub and strengthen their ability to diffuse. Through literature review, the researcher found that the bridging characteristics and benefits of the weak tie in the open-type network had been neglected by subsequent researchers. At the same time, the rise of the Internet has brought about a diversity of media and open-type interpersonal relationships, which is believed to be more helpful for weak ties to contribute to diffusion of innovation. Through observations made on the entrepreneurs of Bonnie’s Brunch in the App industry, the results of interviews with 8 individuals, and long-term tracking of Internet community media, it was found that the bridge of the weak tie is a gathering place of information and it is also a shortcut of ties. Therefore, having the right links is indeed important. However, the weak tie is not always willing to serve as the stranger that displays goodwill. The difficulty in linking weak ties therefore lies in the voluntary motivation of the weak tie. In the researcher’s theoretical contributions, it was mentioned that the source of the weak tie force is the voluntary motivation, and this implicit force can only explode after igniting pure mo- tive. Therefore, the successful equation still possesses the influence of the weak tie that cannot be manipulated. Only through long-term cultivation of entrepreneurs and con- tinuous provision of information exchanges to maintain the relationships with weak ties.