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Trust at a Distance—Trust in Online Communication in Environmental and Global Health Research Projects

Author

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  • Jasper R. De Vries

    (Strategic Communication Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 8130, 6700 EW Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Séverine Van Bommel

    (Strategic Communication Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 8130, 6700 EW Wageningen, The Netherlands
    School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia)

  • Karin Peters

    (Cultural Geography Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Online collaboration to deal with (global) environmental and public health problems continues to grow as the quality of technology for communication improves. In these collaborations, trust is seen as important for sustainable collaborations and organizations. However, face-to-face communication, which is often lacking in these contexts, is seen as a pre-requisite for trust development. Therefore, this paper aims to explore empirically which factors influence the emergence of trust in the early stages of online collaboration. Using the relevant literature, we conducted a series of interviews around projects in the field of public health and the environment on the interface between science and practice. The results show that trust does develop between participants. This trust is strongly influenced by perceived ability and integrity, fostered by reputation, third-party perceptions, and project structure. In these contexts, these types of trust facilitate collaboration but are also influenced by a wider set of aspects such as power, expectations, and uncertainty. However, from the results we also conclude that online collaboration does not create benevolence and a shared identity, thereby limiting further trust development and leading to less strong relations. Strong relations, however, are deemed important to reach creative and innovative solutions and long-term sustainable collaboration and organizations.

Suggested Citation

  • Jasper R. De Vries & Séverine Van Bommel & Karin Peters, 2018. "Trust at a Distance—Trust in Online Communication in Environmental and Global Health Research Projects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-14, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:11:p:4005-:d:179957
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    1. Jasper R. de Vries & Eva van der Zee & Raoul Beunen & Rianne Kat & Peter H. Feindt, 2019. "Trusting the People and the System. The Interrelation Between Interpersonal and Institutional Trust in Collective Action for Agri-Environmental Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-18, December.
    2. Natalia Wagner & Roma Strulak-Wójcikiewicz & Anna Landowska, 2019. "Trust in Sharing Economy Business Models from the Perspective of Customers in Szczecin, Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-26, December.

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