Expanding the Public Sphere through Computer ... - ResearchGate

CHAPTER 6. ANALYZING THE TALK.ABORTION NEWSGROUP 79
Figure 6.2: Authors, Messages and Threads Available Day
Messages, Authors and Threads (Standardized)
3
Authors Solid
2000
2 Threads Dashed
Messages Dotted
1
1500
Standardized Contributions
Number
0
−1
500
400
300
200
100 200 300
Day
Threads Posted To
100
kurtosis= 3.89
0
100 200 300
Day
Number
Number
1000
500
Messages Posted
kurtosis= 4.29
0
100 200 300
Day
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Authors Posting Messages
kurtosis= 2.33
100 200 300
Day
is close to normally distributed, the distribution number of messages in the newsgroup
available each day has many more outliers. Further, as shown in Figure 6.2,
the distribution of threads indicate more outliers than would be present in a normal
distribution.
The entry and exit of authors, and the beginning and ending of threads, are also
relevant to the questions posted by this study. Patterns of contributing authors can
be analyzed by examining the four types of authors who may be present on a given
day. Single-day authors include those who make all of their contributions to the
newsgroup on that day. Entering authors include those who make their first contributions
to the newsgroup on that day, and who make subsequent contributions on
another day. Exiting authors include those who made contributions to the newsgroup
on previous days, and who make their last contribution to the newsgroup on
that day. Continuing authors include those who made contributions to the newsgroup
on previous days, who contributed on that day, and who make subsequent
contributions on another day.
greater than 3.