Category Archives: Research Contributions

Consider the Redirect: A Missing Dimension of Wikipedia Research

Announcement, Conference Contributions, OpenSym 2014, Research Contributions, Research Tracks, Short Research Papers, Wikipedia Track

Title: Consider the Redirect: A Missing Dimension of Wikipedia Research

Authors: Benjamin Mako Hill, Aaron Shaw

Abstract: Redirects are special pages in wikis that silently transport visitors to other pages. Although redirects make up a majority of all article pages in English Wikipedia, they have attracted very little attention and are rarely taken into account by researchers. This note describes redirects and illustrates why they play an important role in shaping activity in Wikipedia. We also present a novel longitudinal dataset of redirects for English Wikipedia and the software used to produce it. Using this dataset, we revisit several important published findings about Wikipedia to show that accounting for redirects can have important effects on research.

This contribution to OpenSym 2014 will be made available as part of the OpenSym 2014 proceedings on or after August 27, 2014.

Creme de la Creme: Elite Contributors in an Online Community

Announcement, Conference Contributions, Full Research Papers, OpenSym 2014, Research Contributions, Research Tracks, Wikis and Open Collaboration Track

Title: Creme de la Creme: Elite Contributors in an Online Community

Authors: Katherine Panciera, Mikhil Masli, Loren Terveen

Abstract: In open content communities like Wikipedia and StackOverflow and in open source software projects, a small proportion of users produce a majority of the content and take on much of the required community maintenance work. Understanding this class of users is crucial to creating and sustaining healthy communities. We carried out a mixed-method study of core contributors to the Cyclopath geographic wiki and bicycle routing web site. We present our findings and organize our discussion using concepts from activity theory. We found that the Cyclopath core contributors aren’t the dedicated cyclists and that the characteristics of the community shape the site, the rules, and the tools for contributing. Additionally, we found that numerous aspects about the surrounding ecology of related systems and communities may help to shape how the site functions and views itself. We draw implications for future research and design from these findings.

This contribution to OpenSym 2014 will be made available as part of the OpenSym 2014 proceedings on or after August 27, 2014.

Open Data for Air Transport Research: Dream or Reality?

Announcement, Conference Contributions, Open Data Track, OpenSym 2014, Research Contributions, Research Tracks, Short Research Papers

Title: Open Data for Air Transport Research: Dream or Reality?

Authors: Marc Bourgois (EUROCONTROL Experimental Centre), Michael Sfyroeras (EUROCONTROL Experimental Centre)

Abstract: The role of open data in air transport research is analyzed by means of a sample of over 300 research articles. The most used (or available) data types, their sources and their access policies are identified, both for the US and the EU. The analyses show that 70% of research in air transport is heavily reliant on data, that 70% of the data sources are curated by governmental bodies and that the US publicizes a wider set of sources, leading to wider usage. Areas for improving accessibility of (mainly European) data sources are outlined and alternative avenues to obtain data are sketched. The fact that Europe is lagging considerably in making its sources readily available to the research community means Europe missing out on entrepreneurship, innovation and scientific discovery, the presumed benefits of open data.

This contribution to OpenSym 2014 will be made available as part of the OpenSym 2014 proceedings on or after August 27, 2014.

The Contribution of Different Online Communities in Open Innovation Projects

Announcement, Conference Contributions, Full Research Papers, Open Innovation Track, OpenSym 2014, Research Contributions, Research Tracks

Title: The Contribution of Different Online Communities in Open Innovation Projects

Authors: Michael A. Zeng

Abstract: Online communities used as resource enlargement in open innovation processes are a promising concept. Yet, to date few comparative studies on characteristics of different online communities have been done. This paper identifies the cultures of innovation communities and brand communities in the environment of the Web 2.0 and shows how to use and further exploit their potential in different steps of open innovation projects. To analyze these online communities, an exploratory case study design with ten small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) was chosen. All ten enterprises worked with the same innovation intermediary, which implemented an innovation community platform into a social network and possess a brand community in the respective social network. The key findings suggest that the potential of both communities should be brought together and used as a harmonized strategy for open innovation and social media. Based on these findings, a conceptual framework was developed which illustrates how to integrate such online communities into each stage of a new product development process as well as to interconnect them.

This contribution to OpenSym 2014 will be made available as part of the OpenSym 2014 proceedings on or after August 27, 2014.

Chinese-language Literature About Wikipedia: A Meta-Analysis of Academic Search Engine Result Pages

Announcement, Conference Contributions, OpenSym 2014, Research Contributions, Research Tracks, Short Research Papers, Wikipedia Track

Title: Chinese-language Literature About Wikipedia: A Meta-Analysis of Academic Search Engine Result Pages

Authors: Han-Teng Liao, Bin Zhang

Abstract: This paper presents a webometric analysis of the academic search engine result pages (SERPs) of the Chinese-language term of “Wikipedia” across major Chinese-speaking regions of mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Because of the academic outcome, the findings can also be interpreted for further meta-analysis, or “research about research”, of the Wikipedia research in Chinese-language literatures. The findings cover the results from four major search platforms: CNKI Scholar, Google Scholar China, Google Scholar Hong Kong and Google Scholar Taiwan. Cross tabulation of the results shows the major institutions (journals and academic departments) and scholarly archives for Chinese-language Wikipedia research. The findings suggest that there exists a divide between mainland Chinese academic sources/search results on one hand, and Hong Kong/Taiwanese ones on the other. Meta-analysis based on academic SERPs have implications for identifying the gaps and potentials in internationalization of Wikipedia research.

This contribution to OpenSym 2014 will be made available as part of the OpenSym 2014 proceedings on or after August 27, 2014.

Open Societal Innovation

Announcement, Conference Contributions, Open Innovation Track, OpenSym 2014, Research Contributions, Research Tracks, Short Research Papers

Title: Open Societal Innovation

Authors: Jörn Von Lucke

Abstract: In this paper, the concept of open societal innovation is briefly described. Regarding government, administration and society, the first early pioneers have made their experiences in combing open innovation approaches with information technology. A compact analysis summarizes already experienced strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of this approach in the public sector.

This contribution to OpenSym 2014 will be made available as part of the OpenSym 2014 proceedings on or after August 27, 2014.

Geographic and Linguistic Normalization: Towards a Better Understanding of the Geo-linguistic Dynamics of Knowledge

Announcement, Conference Contributions, OpenSym 2014, Research Contributions, Research Posters, Research Tracks, Wikipedia Track

Title: Geographic and Linguistic Normalization: Towards a Better Understanding of the Geo-linguistic Dynamics of Knowledge

Authors: Han-Teng Liao, Thomas Petzold

Abstract: This paper proposes a method of geo-linguistic normalization to advance the existing comparative analysis of open collaborative communities, with multilingual Wikipedia projects as the example. Such normalization requires data regarding the potential users and/or resources of a geolinguistic unit.

This contribution to OpenSym 2014 will be made available as part of the OpenSym 2014 proceedings on or after August 27, 2014.

Why Do Some Students Become More Engaged in Collaborative Wiki Writing? The Role of Sense of Relatedness

Announcement, Conference Contributions, Full Research Papers, Open Educational Resources Track, OpenSym 2014, Research Contributions, Research Tracks

Title: Why Do Some Students Become More Engaged in Collaborative Wiki Writing? The Role of Sense of Relatedness

Authors: Wilson W.T. Law (The University of Hong Kong), Ronnel B. King (Nanyang Technological University), Michele Notari (University of Teacher Education Bern), Eddie W.L. Cheng (Hong Kong Institute of Education), Samuel K.W. Chu (The University of Hong Kong)

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the role of sense of relatedness in students’ engagement in using wikis in collaborative writing. Hong Kong secondary school students (N = 422) participated in the study and answered questionnaires about their sense of relatedness and their level of engagement when using wikis for open collaborative project work. Results from the regression analyses showed that students’ sense of relatedness with their teacher and peers facilitated their engagement in the collaborative wiki writing environment. The results were also consistent with the educational psychology research findings in a traditional classroom setting. Most importantly, the result from this study showed the possible linkage between IT in education research and the educational psychology literature. Implications of psychological factors on students’ learning in technologically-enriched learning environments are discussed.

This contribution to OpenSym 2014 will be made available as part of the OpenSym 2014 proceedings on or after August 27, 2014.

Contropedia – The Analysis and Visualization of Controversies in Wikipedia Articles

Announcement, Conference Contributions, OpenSym 2014, Research Contributions, Research Posters, Research Tracks, Wikipedia Track

Title: Contropedia – The Analysis and Visualization of Controversies in Wikipedia Articles

Authors: Erik Borra, Esther Weltevrede, Paolo Ciuccarelli, Andreas Kaltenbrunner, David Laniado, Giovanni Magni, Michele Mauri, Richard Rogers, Tommaso Venturini

Abstract: Collaborative content creation inevitably reaches situations where different points of view lead to conflict. In Wikipedia, one of the most prominent examples of collaboration online, conflict is mediated by both policy and software, and conflicts often reflect larger societal debates. Contropedia is a platform for the analysis and visualization of such controversies in Wikipedia. Controversy metrics are extracted from activity streams generated by edits to, and discussions about, individual articles and groups of related articles. An article’s revision history and its corresponding discussion pages constitute two parallel streams of user interactions that, taken together, fully describe the process of the collaborative creation of an article. Our proposed platform, Contropedia, builds on state of the art techniques and extends current metrics for the analysis of both edit and discussion activity and visualizes these both as a layer on top of Wikipedia articles as well as a dashboard view presenting additional analytics. Furthermore, the combination of these two approaches allows for a deeper understanding of the substance, composition, actor alignment, trajectory and liveliness of controversies on Wikipedia. Our research aims to provide a better understanding of sociotechnical phenomena that take place on the web and to equip citizens with tools to fully deploy the complexity of controversies. Contropedia is useful for the general public as well as user groups with specific interests such as scientists, students, data journalists, decision makers and media communicators.

This contribution to OpenSym 2014 will be made available as part of the OpenSym 2014 proceedings on or after August 27, 2014.

Learning Process Analytics for a Self-study Class in a Semantic Mediawiki

Announcement, Conference Contributions, Open Educational Resources Track, OpenSym 2014, Research Contributions, Research Tracks, Short Research Papers

Title: Learning Process Analytics for a Self-study Class in a Semantic Mediawiki

Authors: Daniel Schneider (University of Geneva), Barbara Class (University of Geneva), Julien Da Costa (University of Geneva)

Abstract: We describe a framework and an implementation of learningprocess analytics for both learners and teachers to enhance a self-study class on psychological and educational theory. The environment is implemented in a Semantic MediaWiki using Semantic Forms and Semantic Result Formats. The design early development, but it is deployed and operational.

This contribution to OpenSym 2014 will be made available as part of the OpenSym 2014 proceedings on or after August 27, 2014.