Forum Users Research Articles

Motivations in weight reduction and undesirable eating behaviors among women with excessive body weight (Poland)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between attitudes toward weight loss, taking into account: the motivating factors that determine the desire to attempt weight loss; the level of well-being and degree of motivation before and during the weight loss attempt; changes in attitudes after an unsuccessful weight loss attempt; the state of well-being after the completed weight loss attempt and the degree of severity of disordered eating according to the TFEQ-13 questionnaire. The study was conducted among 600 female users of forums for people with excessive weight. The research method used in this study was the author's questionnaire and the standardized Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. A general survey questionnaire serving as a working tool was sent by Computer-Assisted Web Interview to community groups. The predominant group of respondents cannot even count the weight reduction attempts they have made during their lives (31%). Three attempts were made by 29% of respondents, and two attempts by 17%. Attempts to lose weight most often involved increasing current physical activity (overall responses), reducing the caloric content of meals (26%), and improving current eating habits (22%). Most people reduced their body weight from 6 kg to 10 kg (29%) or from 3 to 5 kg (27%). It was found that low a risk of aggravation was diagnosed in 45.5% of people, moderate in 44.5, and low in 10%. For lack of control over eating – a low risk was observed in 15.5% of people, moderate in 68.5% of people, and high in 16%. Evaluating eating under the influence of emotions, the highest risk of the studied phenomenon was observed in 50.5% of people, moderate risk in 36.5% of people, and low risk in 13% of people. The level of motivation significantly decreased when trying to reduce weight. No significant deterioration in well-being was observed before and during the weight loss attempt.

Caring for a Family Member with Psychosis or Bipolar Disorder Who Has Experienced Suicidal Behaviour: An Exploratory Qualitative Study of an Online Peer-Support Forum.

The likelihood of suicidal behaviour is elevated amongst people with psychosis or bipolar disorder. This study aimed to understand how carers experience supporting family members with psychosis or bipolar disorder who have also experienced suicidal behaviour. A qualitative thematic analysis of online peer forum posts was carried out on the Relatives Education and Coping Toolkit (REACT) website, an online intervention for carers of people with psychosis and bipolar disorder. Analysis was based on 178 posts by 29 forum users. Posts were selected based on their relevance to suicidal behaviour. Three themes were generated. "Suicide as the ultimate threat" highlights fears emerging from carers' difficulties with understanding and managing suicidal behaviour. "Bouncing from one crisis to another" reflects carers' experiences of recurring crises and the challenges of relying on emergency healthcare support. "It definitely needs to be easier to get help" emphasises carers' desires to be acknowledged by healthcare professionals and included in support offered to service users. Digital platforms, including online forums, brief interventions such as safety planning, and interagency crisis models, hold the potential to meet carers' needs in this context. However, further research is required to investigate the effectiveness and implementation of these approaches.

Persua: A Visual Interactive System to Enhance the Persuasiveness of Arguments in Online Discussion

Persuading people to change their opinions is a common practice in online discussion forums on topics ranging from political campaigns to relationship consultation. Enhancing people's ability to write persuasive arguments could not only practice their critical thinking and reasoning but also contribute to the effectiveness and civility in online communication. It is, however, not an easy task in online discussion settings where written words are the primary communication channel. In this paper, we derived four design goals for a tool that helps users improve the persuasiveness of arguments in online discussions through a survey with 123 online forum users and interviews with five debating experts. To satisfy these design goals, we analyzed and built a labeled dataset of fine-grained persuasive strategies (i.e., logos, pathos, ethos, and evidence) in 164 arguments with high ratings on persuasiveness from ChangeMyView, a popular online discussion forum. We then designed an interactive visual system, Persua, which provides example-based guidance on persuasive strategies to enhance the persuasiveness of arguments. In particular, the system constructs portfolios of arguments based on different persuasive strategies applied to a given discussion topic. It then presents concrete examples based on the difference between the portfolios of user input and high-quality arguments in the dataset. A between-subjects study shows suggestive evidence that Persua encourages users to submit more times for feedback and helps users improve more on the persuasiveness of their arguments than a baseline system. Finally, a set of design considerations was summarized to guide future intelligent systems that improve the persuasiveness in text.

Construction of group norms in a radical acceptanceonline forum for heavy alcohol users: A corpus-based discourse analysis.

Alcohol use is a major source of morbidity and mortality globally. Numerous adverse health outcomes have been linked to alcohol use, including liver disease, road injuries, violence, cancer, cardiovascular disease, suicide, domestic violence and family breakdown. Alcohol use is responsible for approximately three million deaths per year across the globe. Different paradigms have been employed in the treatment of alcohol use disorder, including abstinence-based and harm-reduction models. Radical acceptance, which has been successfully applied elsewhere in mental health treatment, has not gained purchase in the treatment of addictions. We used a set of corpus linguistics techniques to analyze a dataset of approximately 10,000 posts in an online forum for self-identified severe alcoholics. The forum we studied explicitly claims a radical acceptance approach to alcohol use disorder. The forum is "for people who accept their lifestyle choice and don't want to be interrupted . . ." We combined quantitative methods (keyword and collocation analysis) and qualitative methods (concordancing) to conduct a discourse analysis of the linguistic and rhetorical practices employed in the forum. We found that although the forum purports to embrace acceptance and eschew change, in fact, the discursive practices in the forum reveal a highly ambivalent relation with both acceptance and change. We found that acceptance and change are in dialectical tension that mirrors the structure agency dialectic described in critical realism. We suggest there may be merit in considering employing a radical acceptance paradigm in addictions treatment.

Apophenia, absorption and anxiety: Evidence for individual differences in positive and negative experiences of Hallucinogen Persisting Perceptual Disorder

Abstract Background and Aims Little is known about individual differences in Hallucinogen Persisting Perceptual Disorder (HPPD). This study investigated visual processing style and personality across two HPPD types (HPPD I and HPPD II) and a Non-HPPD group. Methods An online survey was delivered to participants sourced from online HPPD and psychedelic user groups and forums (N = 117). Using one-way ANOVA, respondents were compared across four measures of individual difference. Using logistic regression, a range of visual symptoms and experiences were investigated as potential predictors of group categorisation. Results The HPPD I group had higher absorption and visual apophenia scores than the other groups and was predicted by higher drug use. The HPPD II group showed significantly higher trait anxiety than both other groups. Across the HPPD groups, HPPD II categorisation was also predicted by increased negative precipitating experiences, lack of prior knowledge and pre-existing anxiety diagnoses. Conclusions Anxiety, negative precipitating experiences and lack of prior knowledge are associated with negative experiences of persistent visual symptoms following hallucinogen use, whilst higher absorption and visual apophenia are associated with positive or neutral experiences. Together these findings indicate that differences in personality may play a role in determining an individual's experience of HPPD, highlighting the role of individual difference research in expanding knowledge around HPPD.

Analysis of the dental care queries in the “Mouth-Nose” discussion forum of the French association of patients with Gougerot-Sjögren’s syndromes and dryness

BackgroundPrimary Sjögren Syndrome is a rare autoimmune systemic disease characterized by impaired secretory functions of the exocrine gland. One of the main clinical features is dry mouth and subsequent oral diseases, which are also found in patients with Sicca. This leads to a marked deterioration in the quality of life and the patient’s search for information and solutions. Many patients turn to patients’ associations that offer moments of sharing to their members, especially through online discussion forums. Today, these forums represent quality material for a sociological or biomedical analysis of patients' concerns, as close as possible to their daily lives. Our objective is to analyze the concerns of patients with SS or Sicca regarding their dry mouth especially dental care.MethodsIn this cross-sectional observation study, a quantitative analysis of the Mouth-Nose online forum discussion of the French Association of Patients with Gougerot-Sjögren’s Syndromes and Dryness have been performed. After reading and re-reading, initial request themes, topics, and subtopics were established and coding was performed. Then, the 885 threads were classified depending the initial request, pragma-linguistic indices and the main topic discussed in the thread. After identifying the threads dealing with dental care, we looked at which types of care were most discussed and classified the discussions according to whether or not the patient was satisfied with their care at the dentist.ResultsThe majority of the initial requests are posts for experiences sharing and/or advice. The topic of “dental care” is one of the main concerns of the forum users. Among the threads that concern dental care, requests to share experience with implants are in the majority. Finally, the majority of the posts on dental care relate to care in private dental practice, deals with dental implants and prevention and resulted mainly in patient satisfaction.ConclusionsAnalysis of the forum reveals importance of patient concerns about prevention, and care costs due to implant treatment, which add to disease burden. Most of messages relate favorable experiences with their dentists, which is in line with the approach of sharing experiences and support characteristic of a forum.

Leveraging Reddit for Suicidal Ideation Detection: A Review of Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing Techniques.

Suicide is a major public-health problem that exists in virtually every part of the world. Hundreds of thousands of people commit suicide every year. The early detection of suicidal ideation is critical for suicide prevention. However, there are challenges associated with conventional suicide-risk screening methods. At the same time, individuals contemplating suicide are increasingly turning to social media and online forums, such as Reddit, to express their feelings and share their struggles with suicidal thoughts. This prompted research that applies machine learning and natural language processing techniques to detect suicidality among social media and forum users. The objective of this paper is to investigate methods employed to detect suicidal ideations on the Reddit forum. To achieve this objective, we conducted a literature review of the recent articles detailing machine learning and natural language processing techniques applied to Reddit data to detect the presence of suicidal ideations. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we selected 26 recent studies, published between 2018 and 2022. The findings of the review outline the prevalent methods of data collection, data annotation, data preprocessing, feature engineering, model development, and evaluation. Furthermore, we present several Reddit-based datasets utilized to construct suicidal ideation detection models. Finally, we conclude by discussing the current limitations and future directions in the research of suicidal ideation detection.

Naturalistic Psychedelic Use: A World Apart from Clinical Care

ABSTRACT Interest in and availability of psychedelics for therapeutic purposes has increased in recent decades. In a large, anonymous, online survey, we investigated patterns of communication with healthcare providers and awareness and utilization of substance testing kits or services among people using psychedelics naturalistically. The sample population included attendees of a psychedelic activism event and users of psychedelic social media forums. Among 1,435 participants, 72.5% never discussed psychedelic use with their primary care provider (PCP). Only 4.4% reported using psychedelics with a therapist and 3% in clinical settings, although 77.8% were very or extremely likely to take psychedelics with a therapist if one were legally available. While 62.6% of participants were aware of substance testing services, 42.6% of these indicated never using them. Regression analyses identified several variables associated with disclosure to PCP and utilization of substance testing services including age, gender, frequency and number of psychedelics used, and likelihood of consuming psychedelics under the guidance of a therapist if one were legally available. Further research is necessary to investigate these findings among other groups. Our findings suggest that relevant training and education for healthcare providers is needed, along with more visible options for substance identity testing.

Attitudes Towards Transgender People Among Cisgender Women Who use Vaginismus and PCOS-related Online Forums

ABSTRACT Introduction Polycystic ovary syndrome and vaginismus (V&PCOS) are two common chronic health problems that affect the wellbeing of 9 million or more American women. Women with V&PCOS often report significant delays in diagnosis and negative healthcare experiences. Women also report feeling that their gender expression or femininity is threatened by their condition, stemming predominantly from fertility problems or hirsutism complaints. Online forums for V&PCOS provide needed informational and emotional support, making these forums especially valuable for reducing disparities and increasing quality of life. However, these spaces may not be supportive for all. Informal observation of popular forums suggests frequent marginalization of transgender forum users by cisgender users-behaviors that may be linked to femininity threat. Objective (1) survey cisgender women in V&PCOS online forums on their interactions with and perceptions of transgender individuals who also have these conditions; (2) investigate the link between the threats to feminine identity posed by V&PCOS and perceptions of transgender people with V&PCOS; (3) survey transgender people with V&PCOS on their condition(s), including the role of their own gender identity in their V&PCOS experiences, and their access to critically needed information and support on- and offline; and (4) explore any existing differences in the PCOS versus vaginismus online communities. Methods An 85-item survey will be advertised on various V&PCOS online forums and related social media accounts. This survey includes ad-hoc items as well as validated scales. The ad-hoc items focus on online forum use experiences, including how active or passive participants are in their usage of these forums, their thoughts regarding the types of social support that the forums provide, their attitudes on the presence of transgender people in V&PCOS online forums, and their experiences seeking healthcare. The validated scales include the Transgender Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs scale (TKAB); the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12); and selections from the Polycystic Ovary Quality of Life scale (PCOS-QoL). The survey also includes the Implicit Attitudes Test, and is calibrated to measure transgender vs. cisgender bias. Demographic items are also included (e.g., gender, sex assigned at birth, education level, sexual orientation, relationship status, race, ethnicity). Results The research team hypothesizes that cisgender women who report more negative attitudes towards transgender people in the TKAB as well as the transgender IAT will also report more negative attitudes regarding the presence of transgender people in V&PCOS health forums. Similarly, the team also predict that high scores on femininity threat measures may be positively associated with negative attitudes towards transgender people. The research team also hypothesizes that transgender people may report more difficulty in finding a supportive environment within V&PCOS forums given the social stigma attached to transgender identity. Conclusions Online forums represent an alternative source of information and support where formal healthcare systems falter. Examining the attitudes towards transgender people in these communities, the experiences of transgender people in them, and the intersecting consequences will help to deepen our understanding of how these communities operate for all people dealing with V&PCOS, regardless of gender. Disclosure Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: Match Group

Attitudes towards disordered eating in the rock climbing community: a digital ethnography

BackgroundRock climbing is an antigravitational sport in which a low body weight may intuitively seem beneficial. A small number of studies have found an increased prevalence of disordered eating among adolescent and adult climbers. However, to date there has been no qualitative research into the attitudes towards disordered eating and body image in the rock climbing community.MethodsThis explorative study employed a netnographic approach with the aim of understanding how topics related to food, dieting, and disordered eating in the climbing community are addressed in online conversations. Discussion forums on nine major climbing websites as well as three climbing-related forums on the online community Reddit were searched for posts and comments related to the research question. The collected data were then assessed through thematic analysis, generating a number of themes and subthemes.ResultsFive overarching themes, labelled “Is there a problem?”, “Subjective experiences”, “Why and how is weight an issue?”, “The importance of context”, and “What can be done?”, were identified among the forum posts. Most forum users acknowledge that eating disorders are indeed a problem relevant to the climbing community, although a significant minority disagrees. While the assumed benefits of a low weight are clearly a dominant idea among climbers, weight may have become less important over time. Forum users also attest to ways in which climbing may in fact be helpful in fostering a positive body image, such as highlighting performance over aesthetics or emphasizing wholesome community values.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that the topic of disordered eating and negative body image is far from a blind spot or a “dark secret” within the rock climbing community, as is sometimes claimed. An undue focus on low body weight among climbers must be balanced by proper nutritional advice and healthy role models, not least for young climbers who may feel pressured to lose weight as a quick but short-sighted way to boost performance. Clinicians should be aware of the prevailing ‘weight talk’ in the climbing community and be attentive to negative body image and disordered eating in their patients.

Detecting Duplicate Questions in Online Forums Using Machine Learning Techniques

Abstract: Online forums like Quora are systems for collecting, sharing information, and discussing between users on a selected subject matter. Users in on-line forums can ask questions about a subject, then other users who're experts on that question would solution the query. However, due to the fact customers can ask questions in diverse methods, every now and then they ask questions that other users have previously requested. Consequently, a version is needed to detect the semantic similarity of questions in online boards. On this study, we're the usage of machine learning algorithms to discover the semantic similarity of questions. To seize the semantic similarity among questions, we're the usage of word embedding. This word embedding vector is used as an enter for neural network, and then the output is compared with other machine learning algorithms.

Doping with aromatase inhibitors and oestrogen receptor modulators in steroid users: Analysis of a forum to identify dosages, durations and adverse drug reactions

Some users of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) secretly consume aromatase inhibitors (AI) and selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERM). Cyber-forums can be potential sources of information. Our aim was to determine the cycles used, and to identify the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) experienced, reported in a bodybuilding forum. We collected discussions on a French forum for AAS users (MESO-Rx®), from January 2013 to 2019 on concerning clomiphene, tamoxifen, anastrozole, exemestane and letrozole were collected. Characteristics of the users, duration of cures, treatments, dosages, point of purchase and occurrence of ADRs were analysed. Among the 1792 posts published on the forum, 845 concerned SERM and 571 concerned AI, i.e. 2180 drugs used (several cycles included concomitant consumption). Our population was exclusively male, with an average age of 28.2±6.3years, and had been practising weight training for 6.7±5.6years. The SERMs were mainly used to "revive the hypothalamohypophyseal axis" and the AIs to "fight against androgen aromatisation". The median treatment duration was 22 days for SERM, 70days for anastrozole, 84days for exemestane and 30days for letrozole, with a mean dose of 69mg/d for clomiphene, 22mg/d for tamoxifen, 0.4mg/d for anastrozole, 10mg/d for exemestane, 2mg/d for letrozole. The main way of obtaining these drugs was through the internet. 157 ADRs were identified: 95 for SERMs and 62 for AI. The most represented were acne, musculoskeletal, mood and reproductive disorders. Impaired quality of life (according to the patient) was described in 54% of the SERM posts and 26% of the AI posts. Patient narratives posted on forums can be a useful tool in the context of doping, to better understand practices, motivations and possibly to bring up pharmacovigilance signals.

Digital hostility: contemporary crisis, disrupted belonging and self-care practices

Digital hostility has verifiably increased over the past decades among adult users of social media and online forums. Both an extension of, and different from, cyberbullying, digital hostility has become a framing factor in the reduction of quality of public debate at a social level and, at an individual level, has been cited as responsible for withdrawal, disconnection and negative impact on health and mental health. This paper draws on digital ethnographic and in-depth survey research to present new approaches to understanding the cause, form and impact of digital hostility among adults. Participants in the study generated valuable discussion which, when analysed from the perspective of media and cultural theory, presented three significant findings: Firstly, that digital hostility is increasingly recognised not as a behavioural problem among individual perpetrators but as a ‘crisis’ that both arises from within and disrupts digital culture. Secondly, participants discussed the impact of their own experiences of online adversity on their health and wellbeing. Analysed through critical and cultural frameworks, their experiences can be understood as being positioned as ungrievable subjects or, in extreme cases, bare life—particularly when digital hostility is experienced through cross-platform trolling and spills over into stalking. Finally, participants discussed the experience of self-care in the absence of adequate support mechanisms by platform hosts. Self-care manifested not as individualised self-protection but as mutually-supportive, using alternative platforms to share strategies and support; care was also oriented towards care for digital culture more broadly. This paper provides initial insights into the perception and understanding of digital hostility as an everyday cultural experience.

Swedish Internet forum users’ views and experiences of melatonin treatments for troubled sleep

ObjectiveTo investigate Internet forum users’ views and experiences of melatonin treatments for troubled sleep. DesignA thematic analysis of online disclosures about melatonin treatments was conducted. SettingThe largest Swedish Internet forum (Flashback.org). Key search terms were melatonin and circadin/cirkadin. ResultsThe search generated 2669 posts from 857 unique profiles in 174 different threads, posted between September 2004 and January 2021. The thematic analysis resulted in 4 themes: (1) being one's own pharmacist, (2) wanted and unwanted effects, (3) history of unmet needs, and (4) national guidelines and clinical practice in Sweden. ConclusionsThe current study suggests that experiences with melatonin treatments are diverse, and the views on exogenous melatonin polarized, albeit with a general consensus on the importance of individual factors when it comes to administration and efficacy. The study also suggests that there is an extensive off-label use of melatonin (eg, younger patients and longer treatment periods than indicated). More studies on melatonin treatments are warranted to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and clinical practice.

Hyperacusis in Children: A Thematic Analysis of Discussions in Online Forums.

Hyperacusis is commonly defined as reduced tolerance to everyday sounds leading to avoidance behavior and disrupting normal functioning. Hyperacusis is prevalent in children. However, the literature on the manifestation and impact of hyperacusis on children is scant. This qualitative study examined online discussion forums to understand the lived experiences of hyperacusis in children from a parent or carer perspective. Posts from publicly available online discussion forums were thematically analyzed. Online searching identified 219 potentially relevant conversation threads across 18 forums and involving 1,436 forum users. A total number of 170 eligible conversation threads, containing 1,834 messages, were used in the analysis. Thematic analysis of the data generated six themes: personal and health information about the child, onset and prognosis, bothersome sounds and characteristics, reactions, coping strategies, and impact. Hyperacusis onset was associated with loud noise, physical trauma, or stress. Bothersome sounds were categorized in terms of appliances, vehicles, public places, nature, and very loud sounds. Children's reactions included panic, shaking, and screaming. Strategies to manage hyperacusis included ear defenders, building up tolerance, and school adaptations. Hyperacusis had an impact on various aspects of the child's life including academic performance and social development. This is the first study to account for the lived experiences of children experiencing hyperacusis from a parent/carer perspective using online forum data. These findings expand on existing research on the manifestation of hyperacusis in children and provide a basis for further work improving clinical assessment and management.

Electronic Cigarettes or Vaping: Are There Any Differences in the Profiles, Use and Perceptions between a Developed and a Developing Country?

The use of electronic cigarettes or vaping is currently increasing in popularity globally. Debate continues regarding their potential role for smoking cessation. We aimed to compare the profiles, use and perceptions of using e-cigarettes amongst online forum users in a developed and a developing country. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among members of different popular online forums in Australia and Bangladesh who were current or ex-users of e-cigarettes. There were 422 study participants, 261 (62%) from Australia and 161 (38%) from Bangladesh. The mean age was 36.3 (±12) years and 83% were men. Australians were more likely to be exclusive users of e-cigarettes (70% vs. 30%, AOR 3.05 [95% CI 1.63–5.71]), but less likely to be dual users of smoking and e-cigarettes (43% vs. 57%, 0.36 [0.19–0.69]); they were also more likely to mention that the perceived reasons for using were their low cost, good taste/flavour, safety and assistance in reducing or quitting smoking (66% vs. 34%, 5.10 [2.04–12.8]), but less likely to mention a social/cool image as a reason for use (23% vs. 77%, 0.11 [0.01–0.87]) compared with Bangladeshi participants. About two-thirds of the participants in both countries perceived the use of e-cigarettes as less addictive than cigarettes and more than three-quarters perceived them as less harmful. E-cigarette users in Australia were more likely to use them to reduce or quit cigarettes compared with those in Bangladesh, and dual use was common in Bangladesh. These findings warrant the consideration of precautions for promoting e-cigarettes as a harm reduction strategy for smoking cessation in developing countries, such as Bangladesh.

YouTube and the protocological control of platform organisations

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the recommendation system of the video-sharing website YouTube to study how control of users is effected on online platforms.Design/methodology/approachThis paper conceptualises algorithmic systems as protocols – technological and social infrastructures that both facilitate and govern interactions between autonomous actors (Galloway and Thacker, 2004, 2007). It adopts a netnographic approach (Kozinets, 2002) to study not only the formal, technological systems of the platform but also the systems as they were made sense of, understood and enacted upon by actors. It relies both on information as revealed by the organisation itself, as well as discussions between lay users in online forums and press coverage.FindingsThe results of this study indicate that the ways in which platforms selectively facilitate interactions between users constitute a form of control. While maintaining the appearance of an open and neutral marketplace, interactions on the platform are in fact highly structured. The system relies on the surveillance of user interactions to rapidly identify and propagate marketable contents, so as to maximise user “engagement” and ad revenue. The systems place few demands or restrictions on individual users, instead control is effected in a probabilistic fashion, over the population of users as a whole, so as to, in aggregate, accomplish organisational goal.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the literature on accounting and control practices in online spaces, by extending the notion of control beyond overt rankings and evaluations, to the underlying technical and social infrastructures that facilitate and shape interactions.

L’expression de l’opinion

Users of forums, social networks and news portals now have the opportunity to publicly express their opinions on current political events, social issues, or their everyday lives. The analysis of opinion expression, which primarily represented a research topic in the field of language learning, has now become an important research challenge in the field of computational linguistics, which provides relevant solutions for various companies and organizations. The aim of this article is to analyse messages by which users of the social network Twitter reacted to an incident in which Emmanuel Macron was slapped in the face by a man as he went out to meet the public. We analysed the tweets that express agreement, disagreement and a neutral attitude towards the action. The analysis includes 80 tweets and refers to the textual, syntactic and lexical levels. The results show that tweets expressing disagreement have a typical declarative or exclamatory form, simple sentence structure and include explicit vocabulary expressing the author’s opinion (shameful, disrespectful). Tweets demonstrating agreement are more likely to have an exclamatory form, simple sentence structure and include an explicit term (well done, deserve a slap). Opinion-neutral tweets, on the other hand, are more likely to be formulated as declarative sentences with complex sentence structure and do not include an explicit term expressing the author’s opinion. The presented method is established on basic grammatical criteria (number of sentences, sentence structure, sentence form, keywords), which can also be applied to computational analysis of large collections of texts. In the future, the presented model could be applied to investigate various political, societal or healthcare challenges (elections, corruption or pandemic issues).

Requirements decision-making as a process of Argumentation: A Google Maps Case Study with Goal Model

In social media platforms, crowd-users extensively interact and contribute information related to software applications. Usually, crowd-users discuss software features or hot issues and record their opinions about the software applications under discussion either in textual form or via end-user votes. Such requirements-related information is considered a pivotal alternative source for requirements engineers to the already existing in-house stakeholders in order to illustrate decision-making. Also, requirements decision-making for Crowd requirements engineering is a difficult task, as it is always based on incomplete knowledge and requires trade-offs from multi-perspectives. However, existing requirements models and associated tools are still lacking, which enable requirements engineers to make informed decision-making and capture conflicting requirements knowledge. This paper elaborates the interaction among the crowd-users about the Google Map mobile application in the Reddit forum to recover conflicting requirements-related information using the goal modeling approach. For this purpose, we extracted critical arguments from a crowd-users conversation in user forums regarding a given design; built a graphical argumentation model based on the extracted information; aligned types of arguments with goal-oriented modeling constructs in the non-functional requirements framework; conducted exiting goal-model analysis to the requirements model to reach consensus based on argumentation and reasoning, such as supporting, attacking, undefined, and conflicting. The proposal is described with illustrative example models and the associated evaluation processes of design decision-making situation for Google Map interface design.

Białoruskojęzyczne komentarze na forum internetowym Tut.by

An article on the characteristics of comments in the Belarusian language posted on the Tut.by forum. At the beginning of the article, the author examines the popularity of the Belarusian language among forum users by compiling the number of Belarusian and Russian-language comments under the most commented articles posted on the forum Tut.by. As a result of the analysis, it was proved that although the Russian language dominates the discussed forum, Belarusian-language comments are present under each of the selected articles. However, since the main goal of the article is to characterize Belarusian-language comments, searching for individual statements under articles seemed to be an ineffective way of collecting a sufficient amount of material. Therefore, it was decided to create a text corpus consisting of a sample of the last 50 entries of 13 Internet users who between January 1 - March 31 2019, posted at least one Belarusian-language post on the Tut.by forum. In this way, a set of texts was created consisting of 890 unique segments, on the basis of which further analysis was carried out. As a result of the research, it was found that Belarusian-language comments are very diverse in terms of their content and form. Although most of the Belarusian-language authors of these posts presented common attitudes, they participated in online discussions on various topics, and their comments differed greatly in terms of linguistic correctness and diligence, the level of emotionality, the way of verbalizing non-verbal signs and the culture of conversation. Therefore, it seems reasonable to conclude that the variety of the Belarusian language researched on the Tut.by forum is very diverse, and the individual skills and preferences of each Internet user plays a decisive role in its form.