Learning in the wild: Predicting the formation of ties in 'Ask' subreddit communities using ERG models
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The document explores the use of social media, specifically Reddit, in informal learning and the formation of ties within subreddit communities. Using exponential random graph models, the authors examine how network properties and users' attributes influence interactions in subreddits like 'asksocialscience' and 'askstatistics'. The findings indicate that while network ties exist, factors such as reciprocity and being a moderator enhance the likelihood of these connections.
Learning in the wild: Predicting the formation of ties in 'Ask' subreddit communities using ERG models
- 1. #pLASMA M.ESTEVE.DEL.VALLE@RUG.NL - @NETMEV 1 Learning in the wild: Predicting the formation of ties in ‘Ask’ subreddit communities using ERG models Marc Esteve del Valle, University of Groningen Anatoliy Gruzd, Ryerson University Caroline Haythornthwaite, Syracuse University Priya Kumar, Ryerson University Sarah Gilbert, University of British Columbia Drew Paulin, University of California Berkeley Networked Learning 2018 May 14-16, Zagreb, Croatia
- 2. How do we make sense of the vast amount of data generated by learners, especially in the “wild”? ‘Learning analytics is concerned with collecting data from learners’ actions, developing techniques to analyze these data, and making the results useful to practitioners’ (Long & Siemens, 2011). Learning analytics focuses on making sense of “big data” collected from learning management systems (LMS), MOOCs and social media #pLASMA M.ESTEVE.DEL.VALLE@RUG.NL - @NETMEV 2
- 3. We wanted to know 1. How are social media sites used in informal learning? 2. How are people engaging in informal learning processes on Reddit? 3. How do network configurations and individuals’ attributes affect access and the ability to act on informal networked learning environments? #pLASMA M.ESTEVE.DEL.VALLE@RUG.NL - @NETMEV 3
- 4. Introducing Reddit • “the front page of the Internet” • Reddit ranks 17th in terms of global traffic and 4th in the U.S • Diversity of niche communities called ‘subreddits’ maintain distinct subcultures, thematic interests and subject focus • Subreddit communities are user-generated and moderated by Reddit members • Content curation (Upvoting/downvoting) #pLASMA M.ESTEVE.DEL.VALLE@RUG.NL - @NETMEV 4 ‘AskHistorians’ Subreddit (May 15, 2017)
- 5. Sampled Subreddits Subreddit Mandate Guidelines and Norms Asksocialscience • The goal of AskSocialScience is to provide great answers to social science questions, based on solid theory, practice, and research. • All claims in the top comments must be supported by citations • Questions should be novel and specific and answerable. No “what if” question that require speculative answers. • Top level comments must be serious attempts to answer the question, focus the question or ask follow-up questions. • Discussions must be based on social science findings and research, not opinions, anecdotes or personal politics. Askstatistics • Ask a question about statistics • If it is a homework send it to r/homeworkhelp • If you answer a question you can assign your own flair to briefly describe your education or professional background in statistics. • If the question is “What statistical test should I use for this data/hypothesis?”, then start by reading this and ask follow-ups as necessary. #pLASMA M.ESTEVE.DEL.VALLE@RUG.NL - @NETMEV 5
- 6. Data Collection Subreddit Community Year of Creation Number of Subscribers (2018) Number of Posts (2015) Number of Replies (2015) Asksocialscience 2012 65,975 1,523 7,723 Askstatistics 2012 8,317 2,352 4,301 #pLASMA M.ESTEVE.DEL.VALLE@RUG.NL - @NETMEV 6
- 7. Data Collection Redditors’ Characteristics Karma ‘Link’ Points Gold Membership Status Moderator Role Asksocialscience X X X Askstatistics X X X #pLASMA M.ESTEVE.DEL.VALLE@RUG.NL - @NETMEV 7
- 8. Methods Exponential Random Graph Models (p* models): Goal: test whether the presence of ties in the subreddits was based more on the network properties and the nodes’ attributes than by chance alone. Network properties: Reciprocity Transitivity Popularity Redittors’ attributes: Karma ‘link’ points Gold Membership status Moderator role #pLASMA M.ESTEVE.DEL.VALLE@RUG.NL - @NETMEV 8
- 9. Results (Descriptive Network Statistics) #pLASMA M.ESTEVE.DEL.VALLE@RUG.NL - @NETMEV 9 AskStatistics AskSocialScience P (number of posts) 2,352 1,523 N (number of nodes) 1,951 3,689 R (number or replies) 4,301 7,723 Graph Density 0.001 0.001 Average Path Length 4.409 5.232 Average Degree 2.205 2.094
- 10. Results (Network Visualizations) #pLASMA M.ESTEVE.DEL.VALLE@RUG.NL - @NETMEV 10 AskStatistics AskSocialScience
- 11. #pLASMA M.ESTEVE.DEL.VALLE@RUG.NL - @NETMEV 11 Results (ERG models) ERG model (Model 4) AskStatistics AskSocialScience EST SE EST SE Structural features Edges -7.348 8.111 -7.174 5.830 Reciprocity 6.789 3.427 8.041 1.031 Popularity -1.151 1.362 -2.375 8.604 Transitivity 6.137 3.383 3.940 1.644 Redditors’ Attributes Gold Member 3.939 9.670 -1.544 5.207 Karma -1.027 3.658 4.982 3.966 Moderator 9.343 9.779 9.903 4.430 Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) 58,294 119,680 Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) 58,386 119,781 Note: Coefficients in bold are significant at the 99 percent level
- 12. #pLASMA M.ESTEVE.DEL.VALLE@RUG.NL - @NETMEV 12 Results (Godness-of-Fit Diagnostics) Note: Godness-of-Fit Diagnostics (Model 4- AskStatistics)
- 13. • Network level: network ties are formed in both subreddits, although the level of connectivity in both networks is low. • Meso level (network parameters): Reciprocity and transitivity increase the Redditors’ likelihood of establishing networked ties, whereas popularity decreases their likelihood of forming ties. • Individual level (Redittors’ attributes): Being a moderator highly increase the likelihood of establishing networked ties in both networks, whereas no clear conclusions can be drawn on the effects of karma (points) and being a ‘Gold Member’ in increasing or decreasing these ties. #pLASMA M.ESTEVE.DEL.VALLE@RUG.NL - @NETMEV 13 Summary of Results
- 14. Future Work • Determine the effects of popularity on establishing communications ties in Reddit. • Extend our analysis of networked learning to other subreddits (e.g. ‘AskHistorians’). • Extend our analysis of networked learning to other social media (e.g. Twitter). #pLASMA M.ESTEVE.DEL.VALLE@RUG.NL - @NETMEV 14
- 15. #pLASMA M.ESTEVE.DEL.VALLE@RUG.NL - @NETMEV 15 Learning in the wild: Predicting the formation of ties in ‘Ask’ subreddit communities using ERG models Marc Esteve del Valle, University of Groningen Anatoliy Gruzd, Ryerson University Caroline Haythornthwaite, Syracuse University Priya Kumar, Ryerson University Sarah Gilbert, University of British Columbia Drew Paulin, University of California Berkeley Networked Learning 2018 May 14-16, Zagreb, Croatia