Home // International Journal On Advances in Internet Technology, volume 8, numbers 3 and 4, 2015 // View article

Investigation of Users Suspected of Manipulating Evaluations of Answers in a Q&A Site

Authors:
Yasuhiko Watanabe
Hiroki Matsumoto
Kenji Umemoto
Ryo Nishimura
Yoshihiro Okada
Shin Yamanaka

Keywords: multiple account; Q&A site; evaluation manipulation; anonymity.

Abstract:
Some users in a question and answer (Q&A) site use multiple user accounts and attempt to manipulate communications in the site. In this paper, we first show a proper reason why many users in a Q&A site use multiple accounts from the viewpoint of personal data protection. On the other hand, we show some users can use multiple accounts inadequately and manipulate communications in the site. In order to detect these inadequate multiple account users precisely, we investigate them from two new points of view. First point of view is the number of accounts for submitting questions and manipulating evaluations of their answers. Second point of view is the deviations of answer submission order. We show these points of view are useful for detecting inadequate multiple account users precisely. The results of this study will give us a chance to investigate communication strategies of users in a Q&A site, especially, purposes and methods of inadequate multiple account users.

Pages: 50 to 63

Copyright: Copyright (c) to authors, 2015. Used with permission.

Publication date: December 30, 2015

Published in: journal

ISSN: 1942-2652