Motivations for editing Wikipedia - Wiki-research-l

17 Apr 2015

Hi all,

Has there been research done on what "sells" people into getting started on
Wikipedia in the first place, particularly for editors who to on to make >5
edits?

For example:

1. It's fun
2. I'm part of a class that has Wikipedia editing as an option or
requirement
3. I edit to fulfill required community service hours
4. I'm an advocate for a cause
5. I'm a member of <culture/language/religion/geography> and I want to
share it with the world
6. I'm interested in subject <x> and I like to publish information about it.
6. I want to talk with other people who are interested in <x>
7. I want to be part of a social network
8. I'm paid to edit on behalf of an individual or organization
9. I want to expose misconduct
10. I want to start or edit my own biography
11. I want to start or edit the article about my own organization, product
or service
12. I want to start or edit the article about a competitor's organization,
product or service

Thanks,

Pine

*This is an Encyclopedia* <https://www.wikipedia.org/>

*One gateway to the wide garden of knowledge, where lies The deep rock of
our past, in which we must delve The well of our future,The clear water we
must leave untainted for those who come after us,The fertile earth, in
which truth may grow in bright places, tended by many hands,And the broad
fall of sunshine, warming our first steps toward knowing how much we do not
know.*

*—Catherine Munro*