Activity Theoretical Framework for Wiki-Based Collaborative Content Creation

Abstract

Most recently, the use of collaboration element within information behavior research namely Collaborative Information Behavior (CIB) has been increasing. In addition, the success of wiki-based, large-scale, open collaborative content creation systems such as Wikipedia has aroused increasing interests of studies on their collaborative model. In contrast to previous related work, this paper focuses on an integrated theoretical framework of collaborative content creation activities in the context of wiki-based system. An activity theoretical approach is used to construct an activity system of wiki-based collaborative content creation and analyze its components, mediators, subsystems and dynamic processes. It's argued that collaborative content creation is the most important component of wiki-based CIB. Four stages involved in the dynamic process of collaborative content creation activity are learning, editing, feedback and collaboration, as well as conflicts and coordination. The result of the study has provided an integrated theoretical framework of collaborative content creation activities which combines almost all elements such as motive, goal, subject, object, community, tools, rules, roles and collaboration, conflicts, outcome, etc. into one model. It is argued that an activity-theoretical approach to collaborative content creation systems and information behavior research would provide a sound basis for the elaboration of complex collaboration and self-organization mechanisms.