Motivated by Information: Information about Online Collective Action as an Incentive for Participation

Abstract

This paper describes research focused on understanding the relationships between operational knowledge about how online collective action systems work and participation in those systems. Specifically, I use qualitative interviews to examine knowledge about online systems that form public goods, questioning whether the notions of public goods and social dilemmas are relevant and meaningful for individuals making real-world participation decisions. This paper also describes concurrent experimental research focused on exploring the relationship between knowledge about one's own and others' competence to contribute to collective goals as a factor in participation decisions.