Comments in SlideShare: A Four-Pronged Study of Their ImpactAli Anani and Bas de Baar

Before A previous publication on “

Comments on SlideShare: Their Impact and Value-Added” triggered more comments. The richness of comments triggered the publication of their detailed analysis using a four-pronged approach.

Techniques and Tools

Timeline of comments development

Identifying Comments’ clusters

Social network analysis of commentators

Comments’ spiral structure

Analysis of Comments Twenty comments were recorded over a ten

days time span. These comments were recorded. A summary of these comments in their chronological order is shown in the next slide

Summary of Twenty Comments

Classification of Comments We used NeuroXL Classifier software to

analyze comments and classify them in four clusters. Since the previous publication on comments on SlideShare used a quadrant, we opted to classify comments into four clusters to standardize the approach.

Four Clusters of Comments To be able to classify comments into four

clusters we had first to turn the twenty judgmental comments into values.

We did this by assigning the following values: High 8 and above Medium >6 and <8 Low <5

The results are shown in the next slide

Clusters of Comments

Clusters 1 and 2 Clusters 1 and 2 share the starting value of

low-impacting comments. However; the two clusters have opposite paths. When one cluster is low the other cluster is high.

Initial comments with low impacting value mostly end up having low or very moderate outcomes.

Clusters 3 and 4 Clusters 3 and 4 share having a high-

impacting value at their initiation. They both end up having high impact on commentators.

Initial high-value comments may lead to building new relations, generating new publications and opening new social structures. As we have a case in which the initial comment carried weight we decided to follow its impact over a ten-days period.

Analysis of Relation Build-up The comments and responses to them created

new relationships among commentators. The next slide shows the resulting network structure. The darkness of the connecting lines is directly proportional to the strength of relationships among commentators. Faint lines indicate weak ties.

Social Network Structure among Commentators.

Statistics of Social Network Structure We used NodeXL software to analyze the

emerging structure. The next few slides highlight the important statistics for those readers who might be interested.

General Statistics

More Statistics on the Resulting SNA

The Spiral Structure of Comments We used Goalscape software to study the

spiral build-up of comments. Comments grow naturally and may have a spiral-like structure.

Initial Structure The main goal

(highlighted in yellow) is surrounded by three daughter goals.

Explanation of the Initial Structure George Sciberras (xiby)

made the first comment. Xiby emphasized the need for balanced feedback of comments. This comment invited for many more comments,

Starting with a “diamond” comment may bring more valuable comments, or may stop later commentators from making comments for fear they would not match the first one. It is a two-edged sword.

Role of Subsequent Commets Anani drew attention to

the harmful side effects of some comments

Xiby highlighted the need to encourage new authors, and especially those who do not master the English language

Anani concurred with xiby that tired minds nee light presentations

Outcome of Comments Prabakar supported

Sheereen’s idea that collective minds work better that a single mind. Comments are the work of mind network

These comments spurred Anani to write this presentation with Bas de Baar

Subgoals of Daughter Goals- Building the Spiral Structure

Good Comments Invite for More Prabakar advanced the idea

of three dimensional evaluation of ideas

Anani welcomed the idea, but showed concern that not all people are happy with three dimensional analysis

Juao Maya decided to reevaluate his presentations prior to their publication

projectShrink and three other sites embedded the presentation

Deferred Outcomes Anani and Prabakar

decided to publish a joint presentation for SlidsShare

Anani and bas de Baar will work together to expand the use of spiral structures

Third Level of the Spiral Structure

The Momentum of Comments Is Rising These comments

reflected increased intensions for working together and reinforcing the social network structure of the participating commentators

Conclusion