帖子标题中的因果语言塑造了在线对话的更深层拓扑结构
Causal Language in Post Titles Shapes Deeper Topological Structures of Online Conversations
AI总结：
本研究基于Reddit的1700万条帖子数据，发现帖子标题中的因果语言能塑造在线对话的深层拓扑结构，促进更持久的多轮交流，且这种效应并非源于情感差异。
AI中文摘要：
因果推理是人类理解与信息组织的基础，人们偏好因果解释，因为它能提供连贯性、可预测性和控制感。对话结构决定了知识与观点在网络公众中的分享、验证与放大方式，理解因果语言的结构效应可揭示促进在线更深层、更有意义互动的路径。本研究使用2023年Reddit平台200个subreddit（子版块）的1700万条帖子数据集，探究因果语言对在线对话讨论串的拓扑结构与时间演变的影响。结果显示，因果语言始终与更深层、更持久的对话相关，其效应在讨论串生命周期早期就已显现，这一点通过反事实实验得到证实。重要的是，因果语言与非因果语言引发的情感反应差异不大，说明结构深度源于表述方式本身，而非情感升级。一项轻量级定性分析表明，采用因果框架的标题会促使用户更多地用推理展开论述并分享个人经历，支撑更深层的多轮交流。这些发现表明，因果语言不仅是一种文体手段，还是一种基于认知、具有结构影响力的信号，塑造着在线对话的拓扑结构。
英文摘要：
Causal reasoning is fundamental to human understanding and information organization. People prefer causal explanations because they offer coherence, predictability, and a sense of control. Conversational structures shape how knowledge and perspectives are shared, validated, and amplified in networked publics. Understanding the structural effects of causal language can reveal pathways to fostering deeper, more meaningful interactions online. In this work, we investigate how causal language influences the topology and temporal evolution of discussion threads in online conversations with a dataset of 17 million posts across 200 subreddits in 2023 on Reddit. Our results show that causal language is consistently associated with deeper, more sustained conversations, with effects emerging early in the lifecycle of a thread, as demonstrated through a counterfactual experiment. Importantly, emotional responses do not differ substantially between causal language and non-causal language, suggesting that structural depth arises from framing itself rather than affective escalation. A lightweight qualitative analysis shows that causal framing titles prompt users to elaborate more with reasoning and contribute personal experiences, supporting deeper multi-turn exchanges. These findings suggest that causal language acts not merely as a stylistic device, but as a cognitively grounded and structurally influential signal that shapes the topological structures of online conversations.
