Follow the (slash) dot: Effects of feedback on new members in an online community

Cliff Lampe, Erik Johnston

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

172 Scopus citations

Abstract

Many virtual communities involve ongoing discussions, with large numbers of users and established, if implicit rules for participation. As new users enter communities like this, both they and existing members benefit when new users learn the standards for participation. Slashdot is a news and discussion site that has developed a system of distributed moderation to provide feedback about the value of posts on their site. This study examines three explanations for how new users learn to participate in a digital community: learning transfer from previous experiences, observation of other members, and feedback from other members. We find that new user behavior is affected by a combination of their viewing behavior, the moderation feedback they receive, and replies to their comments.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationGROUP'05 - Proceedings of the 2005 International ACM SIGGROUP Conference on Supporting Group Work
Pages11-20
Number of pages10
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2005
Externally publishedYes
Event2005 International ACM SIGGROUP Conference on Supporting Group Work, GROUP'05 - Sanibel Island, FL, United States
Duration: Nov 6 2005Nov 9 2005

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International ACM SIGGROUP Conference on Supporting Group Work

Other

Other2005 International ACM SIGGROUP Conference on Supporting Group Work, GROUP'05
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySanibel Island, FL
Period11/6/0511/9/05

Keywords

  • Feedback
  • Learning
  • Online community
  • Rating systems

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Computer Science

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