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Stop! Drop! and Participate! Fostering User Participation in Online Communities

Stop! Drop! and Participate! Fostering User Participation in Online Communities. Julia Grace Comp 790. Introduction. Online Communities Work, Research, Social, or a Combination Common Problem: Under Contribution! “Sedentary” Users. Newsgroups. Open Source. Mailing Lists. Introduction.

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Stop! Drop! and Participate! Fostering User Participation in Online Communities

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  1. Stop!Drop! and Participate! Fostering User Participation in Online Communities Julia Grace Comp 790

  2. Introduction • Online Communities • Work, Research, Social, or a Combination • Common Problem: Under Contribution! • “Sedentary” Users Newsgroups Open Source Mailing Lists

  3. Introduction ? • Why does this happen? • How to remedy it? • Sociology • “Beyond Being There” • Can we build an online community where most members contribute?

  4. Where to Begin? • Use a real community center as a model • Students • Student Union • Message boards • Meeting rooms • Places to hang out, meet people

  5. Accomplish “Being There”: Architecture Lobby Documents and Links Virtual Rooms * Site Stats (number of page views, etc.) Message Boards Calendar

  6. Accomplish “Being There”: Email • Goal: Get our foot in the door! • Less “happenstance” • How to drive users to the site • Emails! • Students like email • Similar to GPSF mailing we all get Summary of all new content posted to the community

  7. Accomplish “Being There”: Conclusions • Does Email Work? • Users 2x likely to visit community after receiving an email. Number of Sessions per Day More messages posted to the community More logins! Number of Messages Referenced in Email Alert

  8. Accomplish “Being There”: Conclusions • Do people use discussion forums? • If the topics are politically charged or controversial • Who deserves the nice(r) department computers?... • Is Lobby Effective? • People like central location to find references to all new content.

  9. Sociological Manipulation • Rating/Polling • Franklin Street Restaurants • CS Profs • Movies • How to get people to participate in the polls? • Notification Emails? • Been there, done that. • Manipulate members’ into participating…? Vote!

  10. Sociological Manipulation:Loafing • Social Loafing (aka Free Riding) Group Task Individual Participation Drops Explanation why CSSA course reviews are very sparse! IF individuals think they are unique and their contributions are very valuable: Individual Participation Increases

  11. Sociological Manipulation: Uniqueness and Benefit • Email • Uniqueness: • Benefit: You’re unique and special. You’re a typical student. No mention of benefit. Participation Benefits You! Participation Benefits You & Others! Participation Benefits Others!

  12. Sociological Manipulation: Conclusions • Uniqueness = Very Effective • Benefit Ratings per Person

  13. Sociological Manipulation: Goals • Give members specific goals • We do it at work, why not in a social setting? • Rate __ movies per week: 8163264DYB “Do your best”

  14. Sociological Manipulation: Goal Conclusions • Specific, high challenge goals work best Ratings per Person Goal Level

  15. Accomplish “Beyond Being There”: Profile • Just names – no faces • “Without people, there is no community” • Profile • Free reign on the profile • Hometown, Photo, Interests, etc.

  16. Accomplish “Beyond Being There”: Social Browsing Tools Directory to easily find other members Listing of recently joined members Display of 8 randomly chosen members

  17. Accomplish “Beyond Being There”: Social Browsing Tools • Promote people and their activities! • Trivias • Lower overhead than discussion forums • Gauge user interest • Contests Julia Grace’s Poll: How gross is the 3rd floor microwave? Somewhat gross Moderately gross Really gross

  18. Accomplish “Beyond Being There”: Profile Conclusions • People like people • Profile led to increased contributions across the community • Contests/Incentives

  19. Profile ++ • Blogging • Structured friend lists blog-mania! blogs blog Kevin Academic Advisor Diane Kevin Research Advisor * Knows a lot about IM clients! Friend Diane Julia Kirstin Kirstin Julia

  20. Overall Conclusions/Observations • Emails, Emails, Emails • People are easily distracted/forgetful • Email content makes a difference • Important Design Features: • Profiles & Promoting People • Periodic Contests with Goals • Discussion threads with controversial topics • *New* Content, *New* Features • Publish site metrics

  21. The End Thanks & see you on MySpace/Facebook!

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