The leap of faith from online to offline: An exploratory study of Couchsurfing.org

Abstract

This paper takes an interpretative approach to study trust in a hybrid online/offline community, based on exploratory research on the case of Couchsurfing.org, a hospitality exchange network that enables travelers to locate locals who would offer them free accommodation or tips regarding the country traveled. The theoretical framework used was Möllering's idea of "suspension" and the leap of faith [1], which looks at trust in terms of dealing with irreducible vulnerability and uncertainty. Qualitative data was collected by doing participant observation and interviewing 15 Couchsurfers about their views on trust. Möllering's theoretical framework is found to be useful to transcend the idiosyncrasies of observing online profiles. It is also demonstrated through understanding the interpretations of the actors within the system, rich insights are yielded about the context of trust and the actors' reactions. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.