Must Invisible Colleges Be Invisible? An Approach to Examining Large Communities of Network Users Available to Purchase

Takes a detailed view of the scientific community in Chile regarding network implementation and use. Argues that since Chile has many characteristics in common with other nations in this regard, the methodology is replicable elsewhere. Makes generalizations based on a statistically significant sample of scientific network users, under such headings as research discipline, education level, computer access and other variables. Develops hypotheses using the literature of Computer Mediated Communication Systems (CMCS). Discusses the potential of using the current methodology as well as the insights of previous CMCS to give better information in the planning process for research networks of all kinds.