Individual and social motivations to contribute to commons-based peer production.

Suzuki, Yoshikazu
2011-11

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Individual and social motivations to contribute to commons-based peer production.

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2011-11

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The present study uncovers the motivations driving certain Internet users to contribute to commons-based peer production. The study combines the literature of volunteerism, uses and gratifications, and social identity theory as the theoretical framework. Findings from the preliminary in-depth interviews were combined with that of prior literatures to develop a questionnaire, which was designed to uncover the individual and social motivations driving commons-based peer production. The questionnaire was administered to a random sample of top Wikipedia editors in the form of an online survey. The results revealed an eight-factor structure of motivation composed by both self- and other-focused, individual and social motivations such as “career benefits,” “social desirability,” “concern for others’ well-being,” “cognitive group membership,” “avoidance of negative self-affect,” “need to be entertained,” “seeking of creative stimulation,” and “providing information.” Additional analysis revealed that “providing information,” “seeking of creative stimulation” and “concern for others’ well-being” were the three strongest motivations while “seeking of creative stimulation,” “need to be entertained,” and “providing information” were the three significantly correlated motivations with one’s satisfaction gained from editing Wikipedia.

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University of Minnesota M.A. thesis. November 2011. Major: Mass Communication. Advisor: Jisu Huh, Ph.D. 1 computer file (PDF); vii, 106, appendix A.

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