Knowledge sharing on Q&A fora: challenges of automated interaction analysis

Knowledge sharing on Q&A fora: challenges of automated interaction analysis

Ruben, Pablo (TU Delft Applied Sciences)

Kalmár, É. (mentor)
Labetski, A. (mentor)
van der Sanden, M.C.A. (graduation committee)
Arroyo Ohori, G.A.K. (graduation committee)
Wehrmann, C. (graduation committee)

Delft University of Technology

Applied Sciences | Science Communication

2020-09-07

Q\&A fora have developed into a precious tool for online knowledge exchange. Being community-driven, openly accessible and free, getting an answer to a complicated question can nowadays be a matter of minutes. This research investigates the specific case of gis.stackexchange, a technical Q&A forum used by Geographic Information Systems professionals. A central topic is the interaction between users. Based on existing research, an automated approach is elaborated and a big data analysis is performed. Also, a link between the outcomes and self-reflective behaviour found on the community meta forum is established. Factors positively influencing interaction as defined by the approach are identified (implication of the author(s), presence of images and code snippets). Furthermore, weaknesses such as the low share of interactions associated to an alteration (of the original post) are also discussed. These outcomes eventually lead to a series of recommendations for the forum itself and related formats.

Social learning
Q&A fora
Exploratory talk
Automated interaction analysis
StackExchange
GIS

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:67053d30-51ae-47d9-a474-7070c73274a5

Student theses

master thesis

© 2020 Pablo Ruben