Contents |
What is PoliticWiki?
PoliticWiki is a research study conducted by Kevin Makice through cooperation between 3rdParty.org and Indiana University School of Informatics. The purpose of this study is to explore the nature of debate and deep discussion through online media. The U.S. voters participating in this study are asked to create a new political party platform from scratch.
PoliticWiki uses a "wiki" -- an internet site that allows multiple authors to edit pages through the web -- as the forum for this exchange of political ideas. In addition, each participant will complete two surveys. This research will examine not just the content produced but also the process of creating a consensus opinion. The results of this study will contribute to a Master’s level capstone thesis project at the School of Informatics, Indiana University.
Information about the Study
Although the amount of time and effort each participant contributes to PoliticWiki will vary, the main goal for all participants remains the same: Build a consensus political platform. There are four components:
- an entrance survey;
- a six-month collaborative project;
- an exit survey; and
- an optional follow-up interview by phone or instant messaging chat.
Individual Attribution and Identity
When individual behavior and contributions are communicated as research results, participants will be identified only by the custom username attached to their PoliticWiki user accounts. Most information will be disseminated in aggregate form, but some case studies may be selected to illustrate specific kinds of experiences with PoliticWiki.
The content posted to the wiki web site will remain beyond the life of this study. It will be considered public domain using copyleft restrictions and may be utilized by 3rdparty.org in the future. Participants may withdraw from the study at any point. Any content posted to the PoliticWiki web site will remain in the public forum, although each individual may request to substitute an random ID number for her username to identify edits.
Benefits of PoliticWiki
Although the wiki is more than a decade old, it has only recently begun to be utilized for collaboration projects. We are interested in the effectiveness of a wiki when creating a consensus document through edits by multiple authors with diverse interests. The findings here will help improve and innovate political forums in the future.
Contact Information
If you have questions at any time about the study, procedures or this web site, you may contact the researcher Kevin Makice by editing his user page or sending email to kmakice@indiana.edu.