my work seeks to understand the conditions for collective action using
observational data from real communities. This work has been shaped
by three complentary approaches: (1) the comparison of failures to
-build communities to rare successful attempts through the use of
-projects as the unit of analysis; (2) attention to the role of
-reputation and status in the mobilization of volunteers; and (3)
-analysis of design changes as ``natural experiments'' building a
-deeper, and often causal, understanding of social processes using
-observational data. Nearly all of my work incorporates at least two of
-these approaches.
+build communities to rare successful attempts; (2) attention to the
+role of reputation and status in the mobilization of volunteers; and
+(3) analysis of design changes as ``natural experiments'' building a
+deeper, and often causal, understanding from observational
+data. Nearly all of my work incorporates at least two of these
+approaches.
-\section{Projects As Unit of Analysis}
+\section{Studying Attempts at Collective Action}
Although there have been many thousands of studies of online
-collective action the vast majority have only considered successful
-projects like Wikipedia and Linux. The majority of research on
-collective action -- on and offline -- has only considered projects
-that have successfully mobilized. In this sense, most previous
-analyses of collection action have systematically selected on their
-dependent variable. Most of my research treats projects as the unit of
-analysis and collective action as the outcome of interest.
+collective action, the vast majority have only considered projects
+like Wikipedia and Linux that have successfully built communities -- a
+characterization that can be extended to observational work on
+collective action more generally. In this sense, most previous
+analyses have systematically selected on their dependent
+variable. Instead, most of my research treats projects as the unit of
+analysis and collective action as the outcome of interest -- comparing
+the successful examples of collective action to attempts that never
+got off the ground.
% \begin{wrapfigure}{r}{0.4\textwidth}
% \begin{centering}
collaborative encyclopedia projects that were launched previously
\cite{hill_almost_2012}. Using an inductive, grounded-theory based
analysis of founder interviews and archival data, I propose four
-hypothesis to explain why Wikipedia attracted many more
+hypotheses to explain why Wikipedia attracted many more
contributors. Although the paper's methods diverge from the
quantitative, ``big data'' approach typical of most of my work, the
research question and strategy is representative.
-I have also followed this strategy in a series of quantitative
-studies of the Scratch online community: a public website where a large
-community of users create, share, and remix interactive media. The
+I have also followed this strategy in a series of quantitative studies
+of the Scratch online community: a public website where millions
+of users create, share, and remix interactive media. The
community is built around the Scratch programming environment: a
freely downloadable desktop application that allows amateur creators
to combine media with programming code (see Figure
-\ref{fig:scratchapp}). Despite the fact that Scratch is a community
-designed to promote collaboration through content remixing, only about
-ten percent of Scratch projects attract a second
-contributor.
-
-In one study, forthcoming in American Behavioral Scientist, I test
-several of the most widely cited theories associated with
-``generativity'' (i.e., qualities of technology or content that make
-some works more fertile ground for collaboration). I find some support
-for existing theory but also find that, across the board, factors
-associated with more collaboration are also associated with less
-original and transformative types of joint-work
-\cite{hill_remixing_2012}. In another study of Scratch, I show that
-this type of superficial collaboration leads to negative reactions and
-community displeasure \cite{hill_responses_2010}.
+\ref{fig:scratchapp}). Although Scratch is a community designed to
+promote collaboration through content remixing, only about ten percent
+of Scratch projects attract a second contributor.
+
+In one study, co-authored with Andrés Monroy-Hernández and forthcoming
+in American Behavioral Scientist, I test several of the most widely
+cited theories associated with ``generativity'' (i.e., qualities of
+technology or content that make some works more fertile ground for
+collaboration). I find some support for existing theory but also find
+that, across the board, factors associated with more collaboration are
+also associated with less original and transformative types of
+joint-work \cite{hill_remixing_2012}. In another study of Scratch
+written with Monroy-Hernández and Kristina Olson, I show that this type
+of superficial collaboration leads to negative reactions and community
+displeasure \cite{hill_responses_2010}.
\begin{wrapfigure}{l}{2.6in}
\begin{centering}
This year, I am conducting a population-level analysis in a new
dataset I have created that includes 80,000 attempts at wikis (i.e.,
public, editable, websites similar to Wikipedia). In my first working
-paper using this dataset, I consider inter-organizational effects of
-competition for volunteer labor and find little support for a widely
-cited ecological model of collective action from sociology that treats
+paper using this dataset, I consider inter-organizational competition
+for volunteer labor and find little support for a widely cited
+ecological model of collective action from sociology that treats
volunteer labor as a fixed and finite resource. Instead, I show that
contributions to different wikis on the same topic or theme are driven
primarily by environment-level changes in interest and that projects
-may even benefit from complimentarities and synergies
+can even benefit from complimentarities and synergies
\cite{hill_is_2012}.
\section{Reputation and Status}
\end{wrapfigure}
In a study of status-based awards in Wikipedia called ``barnstars''
-(see Figure \ref{fig:barnstar}) I provide an empirical test of an
-influential status-based theory of collective action from
-sociology. Although the study finds support for the widely
-hypothesized ``virtuous cycle'' of status rewards both causing and
-being caused by contributions, it also finds that this effect is
-limited to a sub-population of Wikipedia contributors -- ``signalers''
-who show off their awards \cite{hill_status_2012}. This result
-has broad implications for both status-based theories of collective
-action as well the design of reputation-based rewards.
-
-In a mixed methods study of Scratch, nominated for best paper at the
-CHI 2011 conference \cite{monroy-hernandez_computers_2011}, I
-present both a quantitative analysis of a design change and in-depth
-interviews of users to demonstrate how credit-giving is ineffective
-when it stems from an automated system because systems fail to
-reinforce status-ordering with credible human expressions of social
-deference and gratitude.
+(see Figure \ref{fig:barnstar}) -- a collaboration with Aaron Shaw and
+Yochai Benkler -- I provide an empirical test of an influential
+status-based theory of collective action from sociology. Although the
+study finds support for the widely hypothesized ``virtuous cycle'' of
+status rewards both causing and being caused by contributions, it also
+finds that this effect is limited to a sub-population of Wikipedia
+contributors -- ``signalers'' who show off their awards
+\cite{hill_status_2012}. This result has broad implications for both
+status-based theories of collective action as well the design of
+reputation-based rewards.
+
+In a mixed methods study of Scratch, written with a team at Microsoft
+Research and nominated for best paper at the CHI 2011 conference
+\cite{monroy-hernandez_computers_2011}, I present both a quantitative
+analysis of a design change and in-depth interviews of users to
+demonstrate how credit-giving is ineffective when it stems from an
+automated system because systems fail to reinforce status-ordering
+with credible human expressions of social deference and gratitude.
%\newpage
\section{Design-Driven Natural Experiments}
is driven by both an the influx of new contributors and a decrease in
the effort and contributions of established participants.
-In other work, I have analyzed sales records of hobbyist
-microcontrollers to argue that relatively simple design changes in the
-\emph{LilyPad Arduino} -- a electronics toolkit minimally re-designed
-for women and girls (see Figure \ref{fig:lilypad}) -- lead to large
-increases in the proportion of women contributors and drastic shifts
-in the type of projects created \cite{buechley_lilypad_2010}. I have
-also explored how technical errors may be able to provide similar
-opportunities for analysis \cite{hill_revealing_2010}.
+In other work with Leah Buechley, I have analyzed sales records of
+hobbyist microcontrollers to argue that relatively simple design
+changes in the \emph{LilyPad Arduino} -- a electronics toolkit
+minimally re-designed for women and girls (see Figure
+\ref{fig:lilypad}) -- led to large increases in the proportion of
+women contributors and drastic shifts in the type of projects created
+\cite{buechley_lilypad_2010}. I have also explored how technical
+errors may be able to provide similar opportunities for analysis by
+interrupting normal operation of a system and revealing internal
+processes that are usually hidden \cite{hill_revealing_2010}.
% or changes in socio-technical systems describing responsibility for a piece of software can lead to an important impact in the type and structure of contributions in peer production \cite{michlmayr_quality_2003}
datasets, I plan to compare the performance of collaborative
production to individually produced works to understand when
successful collection action leads to increased performance. For
-example, in a manuscript currently under review using data from
-Scratch, I show important limitations of collaboration through
-remixing in regards to project quality, particularly for more artistic
-or media-intensive works \cite{hill_cost_2012}.
+example, in an analysis using data from Scratch which currently under
+review -- done in collaboration with Monroy-Hernández -- I show
+important limitations of collaboration through remixing in regards to
+project quality, particularly for more artistic or media-intensive
+works \cite{hill_cost_2012}.
\emph{Integrated Theory of Design for Collective Action} -- My studies
of status and reputation provide a detailed understanding of the dynamics of
work, I plan to evaluate the effect of governance and different
systems of authority, framing, modularity and project complexity. In
the long term, I hope to offer a broad set of principles of
-design for online collection action and community.
+design for online collection action.
\emph{Toolkits for Experimental Social Design} -- My research has been
possible through personal relationships I have with a series of
experiences. Most of the time, these organizations have very little
idea if these changes are effective. I plan to seek funding for, and
to create, a technical framework and a network of academic and
-practitioner collaborators, to facilitate well-designed natural
+practitioner collaborators to facilitate well-designed natural
experiments by the hosts of large online communities and to share data
that allows for academic evaluation of these experiments.
Although I study cooperation, I also practice it. In graduate school,
-I have collaborated with a large and engaged group of co-authors in
-many academic departments. I intend to continue doing so. In sum, my
-research uses design to contribute to social scientific theories of
-collective action, and uses theories of collective action to influence
+I have collaborated with a large group of co-authors in many academic
+departments. I intend to continue doing so. In sum, my research uses
+design to contribute to social scientific theories of collective
+action, and uses theories of collective action to influence
design. Although my research settings are online communities, I
believe my work has implications for a broad range of disciplines and
fields.
projects / bmh-research_statement / blobdiff