Uses of political computer bulletin boards

Abstract
Research was conducted to investigate electorate motivations for using political computer bulletin board systems (BBSs) and the satisfactions obtained from use. Results from a telephone survey of 117 political BBS users indicated that surveillance and curiosity were the most commonly mentioned motivations for political BBS use. Overall political BBS use was motivated equally by surveillance, personal identity, and diversion motives. The BBS was evaluated most highly for satisfying surveillance needs.