Examining the motivations of defection in large-scale open systems

ABSTRACT

In large-scale open systems such as eBay one of the key concerns in increasing the utility of users is having a trustworthy method for users to determine which interactions will be satisfactory and which are liable to lead to disappointment. Rather than starting from the point of assuming there are good and bad users we will examine why we can make such a distinction in this context and how humans mitigate some of the problems which seem endemic to such a system through game modification. We then demonstrate a use of this model of behaviour in simulating a particular agent choice in order to show the conditions under which different reputation systems affect an agent's trustworthiness, before briefly describing possible future directions of research to deal with the truly disenfranchised agents.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES
      H.1.2 User/Machine Systems

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
      H.3.5 On-line Information Services

  J. Computer Applications
  J.4 SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Keywords:
defection, game theory, online auctions, reputation systems