Paths from Talk to Action

Peer production networks produce artifacts through the coordinated efforts of many. One form of coordination is online asynchronous discussion. Using speech act theory as a basis, this study posits and empirically validates how user discussions not only describe the topics the community interested in but also symbolically reflect the styles that drive the discussions and affect subsequent collective action. An analysis of WikiProject talk pages in relationship to Wikipedia articles shows that declarations and announcements of decisions taken at the community level is a significant driver of collective action. While coordination discussions foster action, information-only discussions lead to less participation and less action.