Abstract

Uncertain and varied contexts have been shown to change individual skills and perceptions, particularly of leaders (Rast, 2012; Hutchison, Jetten & Gutierrez, 2011; Smith, Hogg, Martin & Terry, 2007). For this reason, we investigate the certain and uncertain affect of active players in a voluntary, virtual organization. Uncertainty is a constant in human interaction, and we investigate active players’ text for patterns of certainty and uncertainty affect that can assist in understanding social interactions in online communities. In this forum data, the most active players expressed significantly less uncertain or mixed certainty affect. We discuss how certainty and uncertainty affect detection provides a window into teaming and community dynamics.

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Certainty Affect Detection in Informal Text

Uncertain and varied contexts have been shown to change individual skills and perceptions, particularly of leaders (Rast, 2012; Hutchison, Jetten & Gutierrez, 2011; Smith, Hogg, Martin & Terry, 2007). For this reason, we investigate the certain and uncertain affect of active players in a voluntary, virtual organization. Uncertainty is a constant in human interaction, and we investigate active players’ text for patterns of certainty and uncertainty affect that can assist in understanding social interactions in online communities. In this forum data, the most active players expressed significantly less uncertain or mixed certainty affect. We discuss how certainty and uncertainty affect detection provides a window into teaming and community dynamics.