Abstract
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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-21 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | Communication Theory |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 1 2018 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2018, © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Communication Association. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- Communication
- Language and Linguistics
- Linguistics and Language
Keywords
- ICTs
- Knowledge-Sharing
- Online Communities
- Public Goods
- Questions