Nonnecke, Blair, and Jennifer Preece. "Shedding light on lurkers in online communities." Ethnographic studies in real and virtual environments: Inhabited information spaces and connected communities, Edinburgh 123128 (1999).

This study investigates the phenomenon of lurking within online communities through interviews with community members, revealing that lurking is a systematic and unique process characterized by well-developed rationales and strategies. Despite their silent participation, all interviewees engaged in lurking at various times, and many developed a sense of community through this passive involvement. The findings shed light on the reasons behind lurking, the characteristics of lurkers, and how they navigate online communities without active participation.