1. What Do People Ask Their
Social Networks, and Why?
A Survey Study of Status Message Q&A Behavior
with Viewpointr Highlights
Based on findings from Microsoft Research:
Morris, M.R., Teevan, J., and Panovich, K.
What Do People Ask Their Social Networks, and Why?
A Survey Study of Status Message Q&A Behavior.
Proceedings of CHI 2010, 1739-1748.

2. Asking Social Networks vs Individuals
“ Questions posed to the social network received more answers, but
”
those targeted to individuals received in-depth answers.
Highlight 1
Viewpointr
allows you
to leverage
both your
social
network &
target
individuals.
Target Ask your
individuals social network
2 | Proceedings of CHI 2010, 1739-1748.

3. Factors that Motivate Users to Answer Questions
“ A mixture of both intrinsic factors (e.g. perceived ownership of
information, gratitude) and extrinsic factors (e.g. reputation
systems, monetary payments) motivate Q&A site users to answer
questions.
”
Highlight 2
Viewpointr
is centered
around
giving and The act of pressing the “help”
getting button in itself is a form of
help. committing to help the people you
care about most.
3 | Proceedings of CHI 2010, 1739-1748.

4. Expertise Contributes to Participation
“ Intrinsic motivations, such as visibility of expertise and the feeling of
making a unique contribution, influence participation in such
systems.
Highlight 3
”
Viewpointr
tracks your
influence
(coming
soon).
Viewpointr tracks influence in
terms of the types of people you
and your friends can put each
other in touch with.
4 | Proceedings of CHI 2010, 1739-1748.

5. Community of Potential Answerers
“ The audience of potential answerers is much smaller on a social
networking site than on a Q&A site, since it consists of only the
direct contacts of the asker rather than an entire community or the
internet at large.
Highlight 4
”
Viewpointr
provides
you with a
network of Your helpers
helpers.
5 | Proceedings of CHI 2010, 1739-1748.

6. Breakdown of Question Types
“ Breakdown of question types for the 249 example questions survey
respondents had asked their networks.
”
Offer
Social Connection Recommendation
Highlight 5 Favor 3% 1%
4%
29%
51% of all Invitation
9%
questions
require
more of a Rhetorical
discussion 14%
vs. just a
one-time
answer.
Factual Knowledge Opinion
17% 22%
6 | Proceedings of CHI 2010, 1739-1748.

7. Breakdown of Question Topics
“ Breakdown of question topics for the 249 example questions survey
respondents had asked their networks.
”
Misc. Technology
Highlight 6 Ethics & Philosophy
Shopping2%
5% 29%
For the top 5%
Current Events
4 topics, 5%
your first Restaurants
6%
helpers on
Viewpointr Places
have got 8%
you
covered :) Entertainment
17%
Professional
11%
Home & Family
12%
7 | Proceedings of CHI 2010, 1739-1748.

8. Motivations for Asking Social Networks
“ Survey respondents’ motivations for asking their social network
rather than conducting a Web search.
” Trust
Answer quality, No harm, Fun, Non-urgent 20%
Highlight 7 9%
Easy
The top 4 4%
Failed search
motiva- 4%
tions is Context
4%
why there Subjective
18%
Answer speed
is a need 5%
for
Viewpointr! Connect socially
10%
Belief search engine would not work
12%
Specific audience
8 | Proceedings of CHI 2010, 1739-1748. 12%

9. Motivations for Answering Questions
“ Reported motivations for answering questions seen in network
members’ status messages (out of 408 responses).
”
Ego Altruism
Humor 25%
Highlight 8 Obligation 2%
3%
4%
Social capital
Altruism is 7%
what
Free time
Viewpointr 8%
is all
about.
Connect socially
9% Expertise
22%
Nature of relationship
9%
Properties of question
10%
9 | Proceedings of CHI 2010, 1739-1748.

10. Search Algorithms vs Personalization
“ Personalized search algorithms cannot yet achieve the same degree
of personalization as a close friend.
”
Highlight 9
With
Viewpointr,
your vs
helpers
determine
the best
friend to
help. Based on friend
Based on algorithm
recommendations
10 | Proceedings of CHI 2010, 1739-1748.

11. Conclusion
Based on this empirical research of general Q&A behavior...
is the easiest way to give help and get help.
11 | Proceedings of CHI 2010, 1739-1748.