Abstract
Prior research suggests that facilitating easier communication in social computing systems will increase both interpersonal interactions as well as group productivity. This study tests these claims by examining the impact of a new communication feature called “message walls” that allows for faster and more intuitive interpersonal communication in wikis. Using panel data from a sample of 275 wiki communities that migrated to message walls and a method inspired by regression discontinuity designs, we analyze these transitions and estimate the impact of the system’s introduction. Although the adoption of message walls was associated with increased communication among all editors and newcomers, it had little effect on productivity, and was further associated with a decrease in article contributions from new editors. Our results imply that design changes that make communication easier in a social computing system may not translate to increased participation along other dimensions.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 101 |
| Journal | Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction |
| Volume | 3 |
| Issue number | CSCW |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 2019 |
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Keywords
- Interpersonal communication
- Newcomers
- Peer production
- Wikis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Computer Networks and Communications
Cite this
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All talk : How increasing interpersonal communication on wikis may not enhance productivity. / Narayan, Sneha; Teblunthuis, Nathan; Hale, Wm Salt; Hill, Benjamin Mako; Shaw, Aaron.
In: Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, Vol. 3, No. CSCW, 101, 11.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial
TY - JOUR
T1 - All talk
T2 - How increasing interpersonal communication on wikis may not enhance productivity
AU - Narayan, Sneha
AU - Teblunthuis, Nathan
AU - Hale, Wm Salt
AU - Hill, Benjamin Mako
AU - Shaw, Aaron
PY - 2019/11
Y1 - 2019/11
N2 - Prior research suggests that facilitating easier communication in social computing systems will increase both interpersonal interactions as well as group productivity. This study tests these claims by examining the impact of a new communication feature called “message walls” that allows for faster and more intuitive interpersonal communication in wikis. Using panel data from a sample of 275 wiki communities that migrated to message walls and a method inspired by regression discontinuity designs, we analyze these transitions and estimate the impact of the system’s introduction. Although the adoption of message walls was associated with increased communication among all editors and newcomers, it had little effect on productivity, and was further associated with a decrease in article contributions from new editors. Our results imply that design changes that make communication easier in a social computing system may not translate to increased participation along other dimensions.
AB - Prior research suggests that facilitating easier communication in social computing systems will increase both interpersonal interactions as well as group productivity. This study tests these claims by examining the impact of a new communication feature called “message walls” that allows for faster and more intuitive interpersonal communication in wikis. Using panel data from a sample of 275 wiki communities that migrated to message walls and a method inspired by regression discontinuity designs, we analyze these transitions and estimate the impact of the system’s introduction. Although the adoption of message walls was associated with increased communication among all editors and newcomers, it had little effect on productivity, and was further associated with a decrease in article contributions from new editors. Our results imply that design changes that make communication easier in a social computing system may not translate to increased participation along other dimensions.
KW - Interpersonal communication
KW - Newcomers
KW - Peer production
KW - Wikis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85075072883&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85075072883&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1145/3359203
DO - 10.1145/3359203
M3 - Editorial
AN - SCOPUS:85075072883
VL - 3
JO - Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction
JF - Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction
SN - 2573-0142
IS - CSCW
M1 - 101
ER -