What is the network form of online discussion groups? What are the topological parameters delineating the interaction on such groups? We report an empirical examination of the form of online discussion groups. We are interested in examining whether such groups conform to the Small World and the Scale Free models of networks. Support for these expectations provides a formal expression of growth, survival potential and preferential attachment in the connection patterns in discussion groups. The research questions were tested with a sample of over 8,000 active participants, and over 30,000 messages. We find that the social network resulting from discussion groups is indeed a Scale Free Network, based on In, Out and All Degree distributions. We also find that, for the same sample, discussion groups are a Small World Network too. As expected, the clustering coefficients for these groups differ significantly from random networks, while their characteristic path lengths are similar to random networks. Implications of the topology for the design and understanding of discussion groups include the stability and control of such groups, as well as their

The asymmetry of activity in virtual communities is of great interest. While participation in the activities of virtual communities is crucial for a community's survival and development, many people prefer lurking, that is passive attention over active participation. Lurking can be measured and perhaps affected by both dispositional and situational variables. This work investigates the concept of cultural capital as situational antecedent of lurking and de-lurking (the decision to start posting after a certain amount of lurking time). Cultural capital is defined as the knowledge that enables an individual to interpret various cultural codes. The main hypothesis states that a user's cultural capital affects her level of activity in a community and her decision to de-lurk and cease to exist in very active communities because of information overload. This hypothesis is analyzed by mathematically defining a social communication network (SCN) of activities in authenticated discussion forums. We validate this model by examining the SCN using data collected in a sample of 636 online forums in Open University in Israel and 2 work based communities from IBM. The hypotheses verified here make it clear that fostering receptive participation may be as important and constructive as encouraging active contributions in online communities.

Abstract. What are the antecedents, inhibitors and catalysts to providing information and participating in mixed fee-based and free online contexts? This paper is a work in progress on the participation of about 500 “Researchers ” in the Google Answers online service. We describe the behaviour of participants in this system over a 29 month period. Even though this is a fee-based environment, and answers are “worth ” over $20 (including tips) on average, labor economics of response to price and tip alone do not paint the full picture. Non-monetary incentives, such as “star ” ratings from recipients and feedback in the form of comments account for some of the variance in participation. Descriptive and correlational findings are based on many thousands of answers. We thus corroborate some of the theories of hybrid explanation presented to date mostly in laboratory settings. The participation of experts in Google answers is associated with a hybrid of material (economic) and social motivators. This is an initial report from a project about participation in the creation of content in open, internet systems. The broader context of this project includes data from both the formation of a Wiki-based textbook effort that involves several hundred coauthors, as well as the fee-based system studied here: Google Answers. In both

What are the antecedents, inhibitors and catalysts to providing information and participating in mixed fee-based and free online contexts? We describe the behaviour of about 500 “Researchers” in the Google Answers online service and over 70,000 questions posed on this system over a 29 month period. Google Answers is a fee-based environment. Answers provided on it are “worth” over $20 (including tips) on average. However, labour economics of response to price and tip alone do not fully account for the online information provision market. Non-monetary incentives, such as feedback in the form of comments predict and explain some of the variance in participation. Descriptive and correlational findings presented here are based on many thousands of answers. We thus corroborate some of the hybrid theories of information provision behaviour presented to date mostly in laboratory settings. The participation of experts in Google answers is associated with a hybrid of material (economic) and social motivators.

Subjective valuations determine the demand for information. Users formulated value judgments regarding information are important for the design of information systems. This paper focuses on information as content. We begin with the "Endowment Effect" extension of "Prospect Theory". In a simple computer simulated business game, two groups of fourteen and seventeen participants simulated a management task in which they were provided opportunities to buy or sell information. The bidding mechanism was incentive compatible. Results show that, in agreement with Endowment Effect theory, people value information they own much more than information not owned by them. Our findings indicate a place for the subjective value of information on the WTA/WTP ratio continuum that emerges from pertinent literature. The ratio for information is similar to that of market goods. Participants had a strong inclination to purchase but not to sell information although the profit data suggests that the use of information had no objective benefit for profit-making. This preference is attributed to risk aversion rather than to loss aversion which is the most widely-accepted explanation of the Endowment Effect. 3

Value judgments about information and its value are vital for a functioning information society. Subjective valuations, formulated by individuals determine the demand for information and trading in it. Theoretically, these subjective value determinations should be influenced by ownership rights, a phenomenon coined the "Endowment Effect" in psychological study of trading situations. This study examines the Endowment Effect in the context of evaluating information. In a simple computer simulated game fifty five participants conducted a task in which they were provided opportunities to buy or sell information. The bidding mechanism was incentive compatible. Results show that, in agreement with Endowment Effect theory, people value information they own much more than information not owned by them. Our findings indicate that the ratio between Willingness to Accept (WTA) and Willingness to Purchase (WTP) for information is similar to that for market goods, and as with market goods, other than rational. Participants exhibited a strong inclination to purchase but not to sell information even though profit data suggests that the use of information had no objective benefit for profit-making. This preference is attributed to risk aversion rather than to loss aversion which is the most widely-accepted explanation of the Endowment Effect. Holding on to information and undertrade in it have strong implications for the information society.