Why Do People Gather? A Study on Factors Affecting Emotion and Participation in Group Chats
Group chat socialization is increasingly central to online activities, yet design strategies to enhance this experience remain underexplored. This study builds on the Stimuli–Organism–Response (SOR) framework to examine how usability, chat rhythm, and user behavior influence emotions and participati...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Informatics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9709/11/4/75 |
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| author | Lu Yan Kenta Ono Makoto Watanabe Weijia Wang |
| author_facet | Lu Yan Kenta Ono Makoto Watanabe Weijia Wang |
| author_sort | Lu Yan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Group chat socialization is increasingly central to online activities, yet design strategies to enhance this experience remain underexplored. This study builds on the Stimuli–Organism–Response (SOR) framework to examine how usability, chat rhythm, and user behavior influence emotions and participation in group chats. Using data from 546 users in China, a relevant demographic given the dominance of platforms like WeChat in both social and professional settings, we uncover insights that are particularly applicable to highly connected digital environments. Our analysis shows significant relationships between usability (γ = 0.236, <i>p</i> < 0.001), chat rhythm (γ = 0.172, <i>p</i> < 0.001), user behavior (γ = 0.214, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and emotions, which directly impact participation. Positive emotions (γ = 0.128, <i>p</i> < 0.05) boost participation, while negative emotions (γ = −0.144, <i>p</i> < 0.01), particularly when linked to user behaviors, reduce it. Additionally, we discussed the mediating effects, notably that usability significantly impacts participation through positive emotions, while user behavior exerts a significant influence on participation through negative emotions. This research offers actionable design strategies, such as tailoring sensory inputs to reduce cognitive load and implementing reward systems to motivate participation. Positive feedback mechanisms enhance engagement by leveraging the brain’s reward systems, while optimized error messages can minimize frustration. These insights, which are particularly relevant for China’s active group chat culture, provide a framework to improve platform design and contribute valuable findings to the broader HCI field. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9f3f1fa580a940f6b2d4326c56a9af5b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2227-9709 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Informatics |
| spelling | doaj-art-9f3f1fa580a940f6b2d4326c56a9af5b2025-08-20T02:50:59ZengMDPI AGInformatics2227-97092024-10-011147510.3390/informatics11040075Why Do People Gather? A Study on Factors Affecting Emotion and Participation in Group ChatsLu Yan0Kenta Ono1Makoto Watanabe2Weijia Wang3Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Yayoicho 1-33, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, JapanGraduate School of Global and Transdisciplinary Studies, Chiba University, Yayoicho 1-33, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, JapanGraduate School of Global and Transdisciplinary Studies, Chiba University, Yayoicho 1-33, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, JapanCollege of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310063, ChinaGroup chat socialization is increasingly central to online activities, yet design strategies to enhance this experience remain underexplored. This study builds on the Stimuli–Organism–Response (SOR) framework to examine how usability, chat rhythm, and user behavior influence emotions and participation in group chats. Using data from 546 users in China, a relevant demographic given the dominance of platforms like WeChat in both social and professional settings, we uncover insights that are particularly applicable to highly connected digital environments. Our analysis shows significant relationships between usability (γ = 0.236, <i>p</i> < 0.001), chat rhythm (γ = 0.172, <i>p</i> < 0.001), user behavior (γ = 0.214, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and emotions, which directly impact participation. Positive emotions (γ = 0.128, <i>p</i> < 0.05) boost participation, while negative emotions (γ = −0.144, <i>p</i> < 0.01), particularly when linked to user behaviors, reduce it. Additionally, we discussed the mediating effects, notably that usability significantly impacts participation through positive emotions, while user behavior exerts a significant influence on participation through negative emotions. This research offers actionable design strategies, such as tailoring sensory inputs to reduce cognitive load and implementing reward systems to motivate participation. Positive feedback mechanisms enhance engagement by leveraging the brain’s reward systems, while optimized error messages can minimize frustration. These insights, which are particularly relevant for China’s active group chat culture, provide a framework to improve platform design and contribute valuable findings to the broader HCI field.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9709/11/4/75group chatS-O-R theoryusabilitychat rhythmuser online behavioremotions |
| spellingShingle | Lu Yan Kenta Ono Makoto Watanabe Weijia Wang Why Do People Gather? A Study on Factors Affecting Emotion and Participation in Group Chats Informatics group chat S-O-R theory usability chat rhythm user online behavior emotions |
| title | Why Do People Gather? A Study on Factors Affecting Emotion and Participation in Group Chats |
| title_full | Why Do People Gather? A Study on Factors Affecting Emotion and Participation in Group Chats |
| title_fullStr | Why Do People Gather? A Study on Factors Affecting Emotion and Participation in Group Chats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why Do People Gather? A Study on Factors Affecting Emotion and Participation in Group Chats |
| title_short | Why Do People Gather? A Study on Factors Affecting Emotion and Participation in Group Chats |
| title_sort | why do people gather a study on factors affecting emotion and participation in group chats |
| topic | group chat S-O-R theory usability chat rhythm user online behavior emotions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9709/11/4/75 |
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