Participation Transformation in Online Communities: From Lurker to Poster

Jonathan BishopChartered IT Professional Fellow - Co-operative Party Town Councillor

Doctor of Information Systems Candidate

Co-operatives Fortnight 2011

The Principles of Co-operatives•Open, voluntary membership.•Democratic governance.•Limited return on equity.•Surplus belongs to members.•Education of members and public in cooperative principles.•Cooperation between cooperatives.•Concern for community

What is a lurker? Is it…

A dangerous being that stalks others, like this tiger in a painting by Rosa Bonheur in the 19th century?

Or is it…

Someone innocent and shy, who is afraid to post because they fear what might happen, like this kitten in a painting by Bessie Bamber around the 20th century?

They can be seen as…

Field Description

Economics Free-rider, Economically inactive

Sociology In-bound peripheral participator

Politics Apathetic

Education Disengaged

Religion Agnostic

Instead of what they are – why they are…

Reason Detailed example

Didn’t need to post Just reading/browsing is enough (53.9), NO requirement to post (21.5), Had no intention of posting (13.2)

Needed to find out about the group

Still learning about the group (29.7)

Thought I was being helpful

Nothing to offer (22.8),Others have said it (18.7)

Couldn’t make the software work

Not enough time (9.1), Did not know how to post (7.8), Too many messages (4.6)

Didn’t like the group Shy about posting (28.3), want to remain anonymous (15.1), Of no value to me (11), Group messages low quality (7.8), Wrong group (7.3), Delay in reply (6.8), concern about aggressive responses (5.9), fear of commitment (4.1), new members treated poorly (1.4)

Reasons to Participate

Public SphereTaking part in others’ online communities

•Many others can see one’s opinion•One can challenge others’ beliefs•One can influence others by latching on to popular ‘soap-box’ websites

Public SquareRunning one’s own online community

•Where one can decided what is published•Where one can direct the direction of debate•What one writes is equal value to others

Towards transforming lurkers into posters – The role of the Participation Continuum

The Transitional Flow of Persuasion Model

Recommendations

• Online Community Managers, or Systems Operators (sysops) need to be more involved in encouraging participation. Like a co-op, this requires good democratic governance and better education of members in co-operative principles.

• Outbound members, known as elders, need to share their expertise even if they are not as enthusiastic as they used to be. That is, like co-ops, they should show concern for the community.

• Regular members need to realise the community is a much about meeting the needs of new members as maintaining their level of involvement. That is, that need to realise that the community is open and voluntary, like co-ops

Any Questions?

About the dark side of communities?

Or how to involve the innocent

or fearful?