E-Research Collaboration and the Free-Rider Problem: Communication Solutions to Social Dilemmas in Computer Mediated Research Collaborations

Publication Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

1-2010

Abstract

Collaborative scientific projects can be considered public goods dilemmas. This is a particular type of social dilemma, where short-term immediate self-interests are at odds with long-term collective benefits. Perhaps the best known solution to the free-rider problem in social dilemmas is communication between participants prior to making contributions to the public good. However, there is research to suggest that people contribute less to public goods while communicating on-line before the dilemma, as opposed to face-to-face discussion. This chapter will discuss why computer-mediated mediums of communication are less effective at improving cooperation amongst collaborators (e.g., lack of social cues to examine the credibility of commitment, less leadership, and poorer monitoring of other’s behavior) and propose several means for addressing this challenge to on-line collaborations (e.g., videoconference, telephone communication, prior face-to-face interactions, frequent coordinated communications, and reputation evaluations).

Keywords

Internet research, Collaboration

Discipline

Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

Research Areas

Psychology

Publication

E-Research Collaboration: Theory, Techniques and Challenges

Editor

Murugan Anandarajan

First Page

277

Last Page

288

ISBN

9783642122576

Identifier

10.1007/978-3-642-12257-6_17

Publisher

Springer

City or Country

Berlin

Comments

Edited by Murugan Anandarajan

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12257-6_17

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