Learning and Knowledge building with wikis: The Impact of Incongruity between People’s Knowledge and a Wiki’s Information.

Learning and Knowledge Building with Wikis: The Impact of Incongruity between People’s Knowledge and a Wiki’s Information. Johannes Moskaliuk, University of Tuebingen Joachim Kimmerle, University of Tuebingen Ulrike Cress, Knowledge Media Research Center ICLS 2008, June 25th, Utrecht

Outline

Wiki-supported knowledge building

Theoretical model

Systemic point of view

Co-evolution of cognitive and social systems

Cognitive point of view

Four processes of learning and knowledge building

Impact of incongruity

Empirical analysis

Hypotheses

Method

Measurement of dependent variables

Results

Wiki-supported knowledge building

Wikis ...

... are compilations of websites

... can be edited by users

... can be employed without special software

... are easily accessible and simple to use

write and revise text

create content

hyperlink content with other content

add, delete, change any part of the text

Jointly creation of one artifact. Collaborative development of knowledge .

Systemic point of view (acc. to Luhmann) wiki‘s information social system people‘s knowledge cognitive system

Co-evolution of user‘s knowlege and wiki‘s information knowledge building individual learning

Cognitive point of view (acc. to Piaget) existing knowledge information from the enviroment perturbation incongruity cognitive conflict equilibration accommodation assimilation

Four processes of learning and knowledge building qualitative individual learning (acquisition of conceptual knowledge) qualitative knowledge building accommodation quantitative individual learning (acquisition of factual knowledge) quantitative knowledge building assimilation internalization externalization

Motivation to participate is determined by incongruity linking to prior knowledge is difficult motivational barriers no cognitive conflict no new information low incongruity high incongruity cognitive conflict

Hypotheses

H1 Incongruities on a medium level lead to higher quantitative increases of information in the wiki (external assimilation) compared to low and high incongruities.

H2 Incongruities on a medium level lead to higher qualitative increases of information in the wiki (external accommodation) compared to low and high incongruities.

H3 Incongruities on a medium level lead to a higher increase of factual knowledge (internal assimilation) compared to low and high incongruities.

H4 Incongruities on a medium level lead to a higher increase of conceptual knowledge (internal accommodation) compared to low and high incongruities.

Experiment

Laboratoy setting

Groups with 5 to 10 participants

Duration: 2 hours

Cover story: Participants had to work with a wiki on clinical psychology including various topics (e.g. paranoia, schizophrenia)

Participants: 61 university students

43 female, 17 male (1 missing value)

mean age 24.6 years ( SD =10.6)

Three conditions with different levels of incongruity biological/genetic social diathesis/stress medium incongruity low incongruity high incongruity complete wiki no content a b one-sided content condition 1 condition 2 condition 3

Three conditions with different levels of incongruity wiki‘s information people‘s knowledge 3 conditions constant

Dependent variables Conceptual knowledge Accommodation index Accommodation Factual knowledge Sum of added words Assimilation People’s knowledge Wiki’s information

Dependent variables accommodation index Allusion to the diathesis-stress model structure of the arguments on the one hand… on the other hand… in contrast… nevertheless… however… Conceptual knowledge Accommodation index Accommodation Factual knowledge Sum of added words Assimilation People’s knowledge Wiki’s information

Dependent variables 21 statements about the causes of schizophrenia The double bind theory is an empirically proven statement about the causes of schizophrenia. correct not correct I don‘t know  Conceptual knowledge Accommodation index Accommodation Factual knowledge Sum of added words Assimilation People’s knowledge Wiki’s information

Dependent variables open question „ Describe the best argument, to explain the causes of schizophrenia learned through the work with the wiki.“ simple answers complex answers expert rating Conceptual knowledge Accommodation index Accommodation Factual knowledge Sum of added words Assimilation People’s knowledge Wiki’s information

Results Conceptual knowledge Accommodation index Accommodation Factual knowledge Sum of added words Assimilation People’s knowledge Wiki’s information 1790,45 1413,32 519,22 268,70 210,00 78,78 high medium low

Dependent variables M med = 3.29 (SD med = 2.70) vs. M low = 1.78 (SD low = 1.78), t(37) = 2.04, p=.02 M med = 3.29 (SD med = 2.70) vs. M high = 2.05 (SD high = 0.94), t(37) = 1.93, p=.03 Conceptual knowledge Accommodation index Accommodation Factual knowledge Sum of added words Assimilation People’s knowledge Wiki’s information

Dependent variables M med = 15.50 (SD med = 2.30) vs. M low = 13.70 (SD low = 2.98), t(37) = 2.16, p=.02 M med = 15.50 (SD med = 2.30) vs. M high = 14.20 (SD high = 1.96), t(37) = 1.96, p=.03 Conceptual knowledge Accommodation index Accommodation Factual knowledge Sum of added words Assimilation People’s knowledge Wiki’s information

Dependent variables low vs., medium Chi 2 = 1, N = 43) = 4.23, p = .02. high vs. medium Chi 2 = 1, N = 43) = 5.23, p = .03. Conceptual knowledge Accommodation index Accommodation Factual knowledge Sum of added words Assimilation People’s knowledge Wiki’s information

Conclusion