Defense: Knowledge Sharing and Yahoo Answers: Everyone

Knows Something

Defense: Knowledge Sharing and Yahoo Answers: Everyone

Knows SomethingL. A. Adamic, et al.

Why study Knowledge Sharing?Why study Knowledge Sharing?

It is a rising method of communication (YA, Wikipedia)

It differs from the classic model of a few authoritative sources

Current implementations differ from the traditional forum format

Opportunity to study interaction between people (always useful!)

It is a rising method of communication (YA, Wikipedia)

It differs from the classic model of a few authoritative sources

Current implementations differ from the traditional forum format

Opportunity to study interaction between people (always useful!)

…but is it social networking?…but is it social networking?

Yes! There are regular users

Often have reused identities Can become familiar with each other Form networks of those who ask and those who answer

Most importantly: It is real people communicating, sharing ideas, etc.

Yes! There are regular users

Often have reused identities Can become familiar with each other Form networks of those who ask and those who answer

Most importantly: It is real people communicating, sharing ideas, etc.

Why Yahoo! Answers?Why Yahoo! Answers?

The largest English language question-answer site

Broad audience Avoids bias of more specific purpose sites Covers many topics

Provides a non-standard social networking methodology Does not allow traditional forum style

The largest English language question-answer site

Broad audience Avoids bias of more specific purpose sites Covers many topics

Provides a non-standard social networking methodology Does not allow traditional forum style

Cluster AnalysisCluster Analysis

Classify question categories by Thread length Asker/replier overlap Content length

Classify question categories by Thread length Asker/replier overlap Content length

Cluster AnalysisCluster Analysis

Provides a clear breakdown of categories of questions

Directly acknowledges the issue of the content of the questions

A good starting point, raises further questions about the nature of YA Who is asking? Are they the same people asking in each category?

Provides a clear breakdown of categories of questions

Directly acknowledges the issue of the content of the questions

A good starting point, raises further questions about the nature of YA Who is asking? Are they the same people asking in each category?

Degree DistributionsDegree Distributions

Form graph by connecting users who ask to users who answer

Form graph by connecting users who ask to users who answer

Ego NetworksEgo Networks

Shows connectedness of neighbors In general, discussion topics are more

connected Larger strongly connected components

Factual answer topics are less connected People who ask, aren’t answering In fact, are less connected than a random graph

of this size

Shows connectedness of neighbors In general, discussion topics are more

connected Larger strongly connected components

Factual answer topics are less connected People who ask, aren’t answering In fact, are less connected than a random graph

of this size

Motif AnalysisMotif Analysis Provides a further sense of “who responds

to who” Further indicates differences between

categories

Provides a further sense of “who responds to who”

Further indicates differences between categories

Network Structure AnalysisNetwork Structure Analysis

Provides insight into the structure of the network How information flows in different categories

under the same umbrella format

Could tailor the design of similar sites to the nature of the topics Optimize sharing information of certain types

Provides insight into the structure of the network How information flows in different categories

under the same umbrella format

Could tailor the design of similar sites to the nature of the topics Optimize sharing information of certain types

Network Structure AnalysisNetwork Structure Analysis

Provides strong indicators of the nature of user interaction How is a given user going to use this service? Ex: Discussion based have most mutual edges,

perhaps better suited towards different model

Provides strong indicators of the nature of user interaction How is a given user going to use this service? Ex: Discussion based have most mutual edges,

perhaps better suited towards different model

ExpertiseExpertise

Analyzed 100 random selections from programming section

Rated 1-5 (1 basic, 5 “pro”) Found that only 1% was above a level 3

Analyzed 100 random selections from programming section

Rated 1-5 (1 basic, 5 “pro”) Found that only 1% was above a level 3

ExpertiseExpertise

Admittedly not a definitive sample! Still an important hint about nature of YA

The questions seem shallow because they likely are

The fact that much of the information may be trivial is unimportant Still an important topic to look into

Admittedly not a definitive sample! Still an important hint about nature of YA

The questions seem shallow because they likely are

The fact that much of the information may be trivial is unimportant Still an important topic to look into

User EntropyUser Entropy

Analyzed the distribution of answers from users across categories

Generally well spread out Some users are very focused, very low entropy But a high number have very high entropy, ask

and answer many questions

Analyzed the distribution of answers from users across categories

Generally well spread out Some users are very focused, very low entropy But a high number have very high entropy, ask

and answer many questions

Entropy AnalysisEntropy Analysis

Emphasizes the breadth of YA Many people are interested in many topics Suggests the strengths of having a general site

instead of something more tightly focused As pointed out, this may be at the sacrifice of depth

Again, helps to build a user profile Who is using this service? And for what?

Emphasizes the breadth of YA Many people are interested in many topics Suggests the strengths of having a general site

instead of something more tightly focused As pointed out, this may be at the sacrifice of depth

Again, helps to build a user profile Who is using this service? And for what?

Best AnswersBest Answers

YA allows the asker to pick a best answer, or other users to vote

Found: People seem to like longer answers No correlation between entropy across all

categories and overall percentage of best answers (but some for top-level categories looking for expertise)

Reply length, track record good indicators

YA allows the asker to pick a best answer, or other users to vote

Found: People seem to like longer answers No correlation between entropy across all

categories and overall percentage of best answers (but some for top-level categories looking for expertise)

Reply length, track record good indicators

Best AnswersBest Answers

Provides a sense of what other users take to be most insightful An important issue in Knowledge Sharing In categories where applicable, raises question

of correlation with the actual best answer

Another element not found in traditional forum

Provides a sense of what other users take to be most insightful An important issue in Knowledge Sharing In categories where applicable, raises question

of correlation with the actual best answer

Another element not found in traditional forum

Best AnswersBest Answers

Provides an analysis of the Best Answer in terms of the category type Compare to E. Agichtein, et al. Finding High-

Quality Content in Social Media, WDSM’08, 2008 which focuses on the answer quality

Provides an analysis of the Best Answer in terms of the category type Compare to E. Agichtein, et al. Finding High-

Quality Content in Social Media, WDSM’08, 2008 which focuses on the answer quality

So why was all this good?So why was all this good?

Provides a first look at diverse, large scale question-answer network Not attempting to delve into the intricacies of

Yahoo! Answers Acknowledges a number of issues that arise in

such a model (Breadth vs. Depth) High school homework problems

Provides a more well defined picture of structures and user interactions

Provides a first look at diverse, large scale question-answer network Not attempting to delve into the intricacies of

Yahoo! Answers Acknowledges a number of issues that arise in

such a model (Breadth vs. Depth) High school homework problems

Provides a more well defined picture of structures and user interactions