Sociotemporal Rhythms in E-mail: A case study
Abstract
This study examines sociotemporal rhythms in the volume of e-mail. E-mail is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but we hypothesize that there are non-random patterns in the temporal flow of e-mail. We counted the total number of e-mail messages received per hour by any address at our college for more than eight months. Non-random patterns emerged in our data. The volume of e-mail per hour is above average during traditional working hours and below average during the early morning and evening hours. Also, there are significant differences in the mean number of messages per hour/per day.
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We are grateful for the assistance of Lloyd Chapin, Lori Ducharme, Edmund Gallizzi, Walter Moore, Michele Murteza, and Linda O'Bryant.
1. According to Anderson (1999), inner-city violence exhibits a contrapuntal rhythm: ‘in the morning and early afternoon, the surrounding neighborhood is peaceful enough, but in the evening the danger level rises. Especially on weekends, tensions spill over, drug deals go bad, fights materialize seemingly out of nowhere, and the emergency room becomes a hub of activity’ (p. 27).
2. Other forms of electronic communication (such as surfing websites and visiting chat rooms) may exhibit very different patterns.
3. George Washington, commander of rebel forces during the Revolutionary War and first President of the United States, was born on 11 February 1731, under the Julian calendar. His birthday changed to 22 February when the Gregorian calendar was adopted 20 years later. From 1865 through to 1970, the United States celebrated 22 February as a national holiday in his honor. In 1968, Congress passed legislation moving the celebration of his birthday to the third Monday in February (effective from 1971), thereby creating a three-day weekend.
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Article first published: March 2005
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