Abstract
BackgroundIn this paper, we study the process of opinion dynamics and consensus building in online collaboration systems, in which users interact with each other following their common interests and their social profiles. Specifically, we are interested in how users similarity and their social status in the community, as well as the interplay of those two factors, influence the process of consensus dynamics.MethodsFor our study, we simulate the diffusion of opinions in collaboration systems using the well-known Naming Game model, which we extend by incorporating an interaction mechanism based on user similarity and user social status. We conduct our experiments on collaborative datasets extracted from the Web.ResultsOur findings reveal that when users are guided by their similarity to other users, the process of consensus building in online collaboration systems is delayed. A suitable increase of influence of user social status on their actions can in turn facilitate this process.ConclusionsIn summary, our results suggest that achieving an optimal consensus building process in collaboration systems requires an appropriate balance between those two factors.
Highlights
Background: In this paper, we study the process of opinion dynamics and consensus building in online collaboration systems, in which users interact with each other fol‐ lowing their common interests and their social profiles
For our study, we simulate the diffusion of opinions in collaboration sys‐ tems using the well-known Naming Game model, which we extend by incorporating an interaction mechanism based on user similarity and user social status
Related work At present, we identify three main lines of research related to our work: (i) social impact theory, (ii) works that study the interplay between user similarity and social status and its impact on user behavior in online systems, and (iii) opinion dynamics in interaction networks
Summary
We study the process of opinion dynamics and consensus building in online collaboration systems, in which users interact with each other fol‐ lowing their common interests and their social profiles. We study opinion dynamics and consensus building in online collaboration systems In collaboration systems such as online encyclopediae, question & answering (Q&A) sites or discussion forums, users engage in complex interactions with others to reach a common goal, such as to write an article or to answer a difficult question. Often, this is a long-lasting iterative process, in which users share their knowledge and opinions, discuss problems and solutions, write and edit joint articles, or vote on each others’ contributions. Connecting otherwise non-interacting users by recommendations may lead to discussions resolving issues that hinder consensus
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