A comparison of evaluation networks and collaboration networks in open source software communities

Daning Hu; J. Leon Zhao

A comparison of evaluation networks and collaboration networks in open source software communities

Daning Hu
, J. Leon Zhao

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The open source software (OSS) development communities have experienced rapid growth in recent years. Previous social network studies on OSS communities focused on collaboration relationships. However, information about how OSS community members perceive each other is largely ignored. In this study, we report an empirical investigation of the evaluation network in an online OSS community which includes over 11,800 OSS projects and more than 94,330 developers. A collaboration network is modeled from this data set and analyzed for comparison purposes. We find the evaluation network is significantly different from collaboration network in average degree, average path length and fragmentation rate. Furthermore, we argue that the evaluation networks can be used to locate expertise - skillful developers in OSS communities and capture important social relationships among the developers missed in the collaboration network. These characteristics of the evaluation network may benefit the research of OSS development communities and expert recommendation systems.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	14th Americas Conference on Information Systems, AMCIS 2008
Pages	3484-3491
Volume	6
Publication status	Published - 2008
Externally published	Yes
Event	14th Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS 2008) - Toronto, Canada Duration: 14 Aug 2008 → 17 Aug 2008 https://www.proceedings.com/content/005/005045webtoc.pdf

Publication series

Name
Volume	6

Conference

Conference	14th Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS 2008)
Place	Canada
City	Toronto
Period	14/08/08 → 17/08/08
Internet address	https://www.proceedings.com/content/005/005045webtoc.pdf

Research Keywords

Community
Evaluation networks
Expert recommendation
Open source software
Social network analysis

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title = "A comparison of evaluation networks and collaboration networks in open source software communities",

abstract = "The open source software (OSS) development communities have experienced rapid growth in recent years. Previous social network studies on OSS communities focused on collaboration relationships. However, information about how OSS community members perceive each other is largely ignored. In this study, we report an empirical investigation of the evaluation network in an online OSS community which includes over 11,800 OSS projects and more than 94,330 developers. A collaboration network is modeled from this data set and analyzed for comparison purposes. We find the evaluation network is significantly different from collaboration network in average degree, average path length and fragmentation rate. Furthermore, we argue that the evaluation networks can be used to locate expertise - skillful developers in OSS communities and capture important social relationships among the developers missed in the collaboration network. These characteristics of the evaluation network may benefit the research of OSS development communities and expert recommendation systems.",

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author = "Daning Hu and \{Leon Zhao\}, J.",

year = "2008",

language = "English",

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volume = "6",

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booktitle = "14th Americas Conference on Information Systems, AMCIS 2008",

note = "14th Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS 2008) ; Conference date: 14-08-2008 Through 17-08-2008",

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TY - GEN

T1 - A comparison of evaluation networks and collaboration networks in open source software communities

AU - Hu, Daning

AU - Leon Zhao, J.

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - The open source software (OSS) development communities have experienced rapid growth in recent years. Previous social network studies on OSS communities focused on collaboration relationships. However, information about how OSS community members perceive each other is largely ignored. In this study, we report an empirical investigation of the evaluation network in an online OSS community which includes over 11,800 OSS projects and more than 94,330 developers. A collaboration network is modeled from this data set and analyzed for comparison purposes. We find the evaluation network is significantly different from collaboration network in average degree, average path length and fragmentation rate. Furthermore, we argue that the evaluation networks can be used to locate expertise - skillful developers in OSS communities and capture important social relationships among the developers missed in the collaboration network. These characteristics of the evaluation network may benefit the research of OSS development communities and expert recommendation systems.

AB - The open source software (OSS) development communities have experienced rapid growth in recent years. Previous social network studies on OSS communities focused on collaboration relationships. However, information about how OSS community members perceive each other is largely ignored. In this study, we report an empirical investigation of the evaluation network in an online OSS community which includes over 11,800 OSS projects and more than 94,330 developers. A collaboration network is modeled from this data set and analyzed for comparison purposes. We find the evaluation network is significantly different from collaboration network in average degree, average path length and fragmentation rate. Furthermore, we argue that the evaluation networks can be used to locate expertise - skillful developers in OSS communities and capture important social relationships among the developers missed in the collaboration network. These characteristics of the evaluation network may benefit the research of OSS development communities and expert recommendation systems.

KW - Community

KW - Evaluation networks

KW - Expert recommendation

KW - Open source software

KW - Social network analysis

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UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84870267987&origin=recordpage

M3 - RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)

SN - 9781605609539

VL - 6

SP - 3484

EP - 3491

BT - 14th Americas Conference on Information Systems, AMCIS 2008

T2 - 14th Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS 2008)

Y2 - 14 August 2008 through 17 August 2008

ER -

A comparison of evaluation networks and collaboration networks in open source software communities

Abstract

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Conference

Research Keywords

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