Social types in technical newsgroups: Implications for information flow

Using Fisher and Durrance’s 2 framework of information communities, this study examines the roles played by differed social types in information flow within online technical newsgroups. Data collection methods included content analysis of discussion threads from technical newsgroups, focus groups, participant observation and interviews with key informants, along with quantitative analysis of data obtained from Microsoft Research’s Netscan project. Findings support and expand the information communities framework. Four social types were identified:(1) Questioners,(2) Answer People,(3) Community Managers and (4) Moguls. Newsgroups facilitated social and information exchanges among individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and geographic locations as they posted and replied to messages publicly available for viewing. Interaction of these various social types cultivated information flow as users …