Regensburg 2013 – scientific programme

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SOE: Fachverband Physik sozio-ökonomischer Systeme

SOE 24: Group Dynamics

SOE 24.5: Talk

Thursday, March 14, 2013, 16:45–17:00, H37

Quantitative indicators for roles in online discussion groups — Eleni Hitchinson and •Christian von Ferber — Applied Mathematics Research Centre, Coventry University, UK

A number of usenet groups have a long history where individual users are found to participate over long time ranges. These groups therefore offer the possibility to test hypotheses like e.g. preferential attachment scenarios on such time scales.

Our focus is in particular on developing quantitative indicators for the type of discussion (e.g., technical or philosophical) and the self-defined roles of the participants. Analysing technical discussions we identify time evolving network motives that describe expert members who answer many questions while in philosophical discussions some members may occur who initiate a multitude of discussions. Developing indicators for such roles we may observe their evolution quantitatively.