Soliciting Answers via Credibility-Based User Recommendations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Online question-and-answer services face challenges in encouraging users to provide answers to posted questions, as simply sharing information may not persuade users to take action, leading to unanswered questions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allows users to directly solicit answers from recommended users by sending a message with a specific call to action, including notifications on question pages about solicitations received, and utilizing algorithms to suggest users based on credibility and past response behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If users simply share information on question-and-answer services, then information can be disseminated, but users are not motivated to provide answers to questions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically selecting and inviting suitable users to answer questions before the question is posted. The system pre-identifies potential answerers based on their credentials and past response behavior, and sends them invitation notifications in advance, so they are prepared and motivated to provide answers when they receive the question.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by notifying selected users about their invitation status and providing them with information about the question and the requester. This feedback loop keeps users informed and engaged, allowing them to make informed decisions about whether to provide answers, thereby increasing their motivation and participation.
2Reliability
If the system selects recommended users based on credentials and past behavior, then answer quality improves, but the selection process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing users to maintain and update their own credentials, expertise areas, and response behavior histories. Users can independently manage their profiles, making the selection process more efficient and reducing the complexity of centralized verification while maintaining high answer quality through user-contributed data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual or complex mechanical selection processes with automated algorithms that analyze user credentials, expertise, and past response behavior. This substitution of mechanical selection with computational analysis simplifies the overall system architecture while improving the reliability and objectivity of user selection for answer provision.
3Productivity
If the system communicates solicitations directly to selected users, then answer solicitation effectiveness increases, but the communication infrastructure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universality by implementing a multi-functional communication platform that handles multiple types of interactions: sending invitation notifications to selected users, delivering question content, providing feedback on invitation status, and enabling users to accept or decline answer requests. This unified communication infrastructure serves multiple purposes, reducing the need for separate specialized systems.
4Loss of information
If the system presents notification details on question pages, then transparency and user awareness improve, but the web page complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies segmentation by dividing the question page into distinct functional sections: the main question content area, a separate notification section for invitation status, and detailed information panels for selected users. This segmentation organizes information into manageable, logically separated components, improving transparency while maintaining web page structure through modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
A question-and-answer application with an “ask-to-answer” feature is described. The ask-to-answer feature enables any user to solicit an answer to a question from one or more users. Upon soliciting one or more users for an answer to a particular question, a message may be directed to the one or more users. The message may include a copy of the text of the question and may provide a mechanism enabling the one or more users to pass on answering the question. Subsequent to the solicitation, the question page may include a notification with information about the solicitation, including information identifying the group of users who have been asked to answer the question and the number of times the one or more users has been asked to provide an answer.