@article{hill_remixing_2012,
title = {The remixing dilemma: the tradeoff between generativity and originality},
- volume = {Forthcoming},
journal = {American Behavioral Scientist},
author = {Hill, Benjamin Mako and Monroy-Hern\'{a}ndez, Andr\'{e}s},
year = {2012},
(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
+study finds support for a widely hypothesized ``virtuous cycle'' in which
+status rewards both cause and are 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
with credible human expressions of social deference and
gratitude. These studies suggest important limits to previous
theoretical work on status as a motivator for collective action, and
-describe a more nuanced theoretical model.
+put forward a more nuanced theoretical model.
%\newpage
\section{Design-Driven Natural Experiments}
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 an analysis using data from Scratch which currently under
+example, in an analysis using data from Scratch which is 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
organizations with large, active, online communities (e.g., the MIT
Media Lab and the Wikimedia Foundation). These organizations, like
many others, make design changes to the software that supports their
-communities to encourage contributions and improve users'
+communities to encourage contributions and improve their users'
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