In contrast to previous research that treats question-askers as free-riders, this article conceptualizes questions and information requests as important forms of contribution to generating online public information goods. By requesting information, individuals make visible an informational need, calling for attention from those who may be able to fulfill that need and alerting those who share that need. Communicating questions can result in groups forming around particular shared interests, giving rise to permeable group boundaries that distinguish the interested from others. Such groups continue or even grow if new information needs are introduced. Once all information needs are fulfilled, the group will eventually dissolve, leaving their informational assets as public goods for the whole community.

中文翻译：

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问题在组织中的价值：重新定义对在线公共信息产品的贡献

与以往将提问者视为搭便车者的研究不同，本文将问题和信息请求概念化为对生成在线公共信息产品的重要贡献形式。通过请求信息，个人使信息需求可见，从而引起可能能够满足该需求的人的注意并提醒共享该需求的人。交流问题可能会导致围绕特定的共同兴趣形成群体，从而产生可渗透的群体边界，将感兴趣的人与其他人区分开来。如果引入新的信息需求，这些群体会继续甚至增长。一旦所有的信息需求都得到满足，这个群体最终就会解散，他们的信息资产将成为整个社区的公共物品。