@inproceedings{2b5ec335f3b94ecf9b88b7573c7cc95f,
title = "Anonymity options and professional participation in an online community of practice",
abstract = "In this paper, we analyze a natural experiment regarding anonymity options and participation in a large, successful online community of practice (CoP) for U.S. soldiers. We study the impacts of changes of anonymity options on comment quality for productive discussion and professionalism. Four levels of personal attribution or anonymity of comments are significantly correlated with comment quality under some, but not all, circumstances. Eliminating anonymity options produced significantly fewer antisocial comments and fewer comments overall, although it did not affect overall peripheral participation as measured by logins and page views. Online identity or reputation appears to be more of a factor than external culpability in shaping user behaviors. Attitudes of participants and the evolution of norms over time are presented, and implications for the design of online learning communities are discussed.",
keywords = "Anonymity, Asynchronous discussion, Community of practice, Facilitation, Flaming, Moderation, Norms, Online discussion, Participation",
author = "Kilner, {Peter G.} and Hoadley, {Christopher M.}",
year = "2005",
doi = "10.3115/1149293.1149328",
language = "English (US)",
isbn = "0805857826",
series = "Computer Supported Collaborative Learning 2005: The Next 10 Years - Proceedings of the International Conference on Computer Supported Collaborative Learning 2005, CSCL 2005",
publisher = "Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc.",
pages = "272--280",
booktitle = "Computer Supported Collaborative Learning 2005",
note = "International Conference on Computer Supported Collaborative Learning 2005, CSCL 2005 ; Conference date: 30-05-2005 Through 04-06-2005",
}