Wiki a la carte: Understanding participation behaviors

✍ Scribed by Pnina Shachaf; Noriko Hara; Curt Bonk; Thomas P. Mackey; Bradley Hemminger; Besiki Stvilia; Howard Rosenbaum

• Book ID: 102509344
• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 57 KB
• Volume: 44
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0044-7870
• DOI: 10.1002/meet.1450440110

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

This panel focuses on trends in research on Wikis. Wikis have become prevalent in our society and are used for multiple purposes, such as education, knowledge sharing, collaboration, and coordination. Similar to other popular social computing tools, they raise new research questions and have attracted the attention of researchers in information science. While some focus on the semantic web, the automatic processing of data accumulated by users, and tool improvements, others discuss social implications of Wikis. This panel presents five studies that address the social uses of Wikis that support information sharing. In their studies, the panelists use a variety of novel applications of research methods, such as action research, and online ethnography, site observation, survey, and interviews. The panelists will present their findings: Shachaf and Hara will discuss Wikipedians' norms and behaviors; Bonk will present collaborative writing on Wikibook; Mackey will discuss authorship and collaboration in PBwiki.com; Hemminger will share results from the early use of wikis for conference communications; and Stvilia will outline the community mechanism of information quality assurance in Wikipedia.