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Title
Understanding Information Sharing Among Scientists Through a Professional Online Community: Analyses on Interaction Patterns and Contents
Author(s)
Eun-Ja ShinGuiohk LeeHeeyoon Choi
Publication Year
2017-12-29
Abstract
Even through many professional organizations increasingly use Q&A sites in their online communities for information sharing, there are few studies which examine what is really going on in the Q&A activities in professional online communities (POC). This study aims to examine the interaction patterns and contents posted in the Q&A site of a POC, KOSEN, a science and technology online community in South Korea, focusing on how actively scientific information and knowledge are shared. The interaction patterns among the participants were identified through social network analysis (SNA) and the contents in the Q&As were examined by content analysis. The results show that the overall network indicated a moderate level of participation and connection and answerers especially tended to be active. Also, there are different interaction patterns depending on academic fields. Relatively few participants were posting leaders who seemed to steer the overall interactions. Furthermore, some content related to manipulation and explanation for experiments, which are in urgent need, seem to be posted in the sites more frequently with more amounts. Combining both SNA and content analysis, this study demonstrated how actively information and knowledge is shared and what types of contents are exchanged. The findings have practical implications for POC managers and practitioners.
Keyword
information sharing; professional online community; interaction pattern; SNA; content analysis; KOSEN
Journal Title
Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
Citation Volume
5
ISSN
2287-4577
DOI
10.1633/JISTaP.2017.5.4.2
Files in This Item:
Thumbnail E1JSCH_2017_v5n4_26.pdf634.32 kBDownload
Appears in Collections:
8. KISTI 간행물 > JISTaP > Vol. 5 - No. 4
Type
Article
URI
https://repository.kisti.re.kr/handle/10580/8692
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