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Domestic Migrant Workers in Israel: The Strength of Weak Ties

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Transforming Digital Worlds (iConference 2018)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 10766))

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Abstract

This paper presents an ongoing exploratory study examining the role that weak ties play in the information behaviour of domestic migrant workers living in Israel. Weak ties are social acquaintances that provide varied information and social support. The study used the narrative inquiry method that allows the researcher to study and understand information behaviours intrinsically related to the life stories of the population studied. The interviews looked for narratives that described their interactions with different information sources, and the role that weak ties play as sources of information and social support that help them make sense of their lives in Israel. Findings revealed that weak ties fulfilled four functions: extending access to information, fostering social interactions with dissimilar others, facilitating low-risk discussion of high-risk topics, and fostering a sense of belonging.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bar-Ilan University, 52900, Ramat-Gan, Israel

    Jenny Bronstein

Authors
  1. Jenny Bronstein
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Correspondence to Jenny Bronstein .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

    Gobinda Chowdhury

  2. Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

    Julie McLeod

  3. University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

    Val Gillet

  4. University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

    Peter Willett

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Bronstein, J. (2018). Domestic Migrant Workers in Israel: The Strength of Weak Ties. In: Chowdhury, G., McLeod, J., Gillet, V., Willett, P. (eds) Transforming Digital Worlds. iConference 2018. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 10766. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78105-1_47

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78105-1_47

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-78104-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-78105-1

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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