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

Abstract

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.