In a previous post, I described my approach to studying social computing systems, and mentioned three high-level research questions. I’ve wordsmithed the questions somewhat, and now I need to think about what I’m really asking and how I can go about answering the questions.
1. How do information structure and language use shape the evolution of a user-contributed content system? The key to this question is “evolution”. It is important to collect field data over a period of time to begin to understand how language is used to structure and seek information, and to communicate in user-contributed content systems. I’m not sure yet exactly what data I might collect — but I do know that retrospective interviews will not be enough. From my CTools pilot I’m learning that language use in user-contributed content systems seems to be tacit in the same way language use in conversation is. One can make up a reason for saying something a certain way after-the-fact, but the processes taking place in the moment are unconscious. The challenge will be to collect data that is detailed enough to piece together what is going on. My initial feeling is that this will consist of a combination of interviews, observations, and think aloud protocols. How should I focus the data collection?
2. How do people establish common ground and negotiate meaning when contributing and seeking information asynchronously, in a shared environment? This question asks specifically about language use and adaptation. It is impossible for people to create isolated labels for things that are completely unambiguous, because people use contextual cues and rely on interactions with each other to understand what words mean (Lansdale, 1988). How do people cope with language ambiguity in these systems, and understand one another? In conversation, people are able to provide each other with feedback (in synchronous communication), or carefully plan their utterances (in written discourse or other texts). User-contributed content systems do not afford either of these processes.
The image below is a rough draft of another, more specific version of my concept diagram. It specifically refers to factors that might affect word choice, and from which hypotheses could be generated and tested experimentally. The challenge here lies in deciding where to start. My intuition is to focus on precedent, awareness, and model of others’ knowledge. It is important to remember both participants in the communication: the producer and the consumer.
3. What are the consequences for information seeking and access? This is something I don’t think I’ll get to in my dissertation, because I would have to build and test a system. This is my eventual goal, but does not fall within my time-frame for graduating.
