2017/09/14 by Leila Bighash, Poong Oh, Janet Fulk +2
Social Sciences · #Knowledge Management and Sharing #Social Media and Politics #Wikis in Education and Collaboration
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/comt.12123
openalex publication_date 2017/09/14 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
In contrast to previous research that treats question-Paskers as free-riders, this article conceptualizes questions and information requests as important forms of contribution to generating online public information goods. By requesting information, individuals make visible an informational need, calling for attention from those who may be able to fulfill that need and alerting those who share that need. Communicating questions can result in groups forming around particular shared interests, giving rise to permeable group boundaries that distinguish the interested from others. Such groups continue or even grow if new information needs are introduced. Once all information needs are fulfilled, the group will eventually dissolve, leaving their informational assets as public goods for the whole community.