Harnessing collective knowledge inherent in tag clouds. (23rd August 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cress, U.; Held, C.
• Is Part Of: Journal of computer assisted learning. Volume 29:Number 3(2013:Jun.)
• Page Start: 235
• Page End: 247
• Publication Date: 2012-08-23
• Subjects: Co‐Evolution Model -- collective knowledge -- information foraging -- social software -- tag clouds -- Web navigation; Computer-assisted instruction -- Periodicals; 371.334
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2729.2012.00491.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-4909

Abstract

Abstract: Tagging systems represent the conceptual knowledge of a community. We experimentally tested whether people harness this collective knowledge when navigating through the Web. As a within‐factor we manipulated people's prior knowledge (no knowledge vs. prior knowledge that was congruent/incongruent to the collective knowledge inherent in the tags). As between‐factor we manipulated whether people had tag clouds available or not. In line with the Information Foraging Theory and with the Co‐Evolution Model of individual learning and collective knowledge building, we found that people's prior knowledge and tag clouds influenced their navigation. Tags which were congruent with people's prior knowledge had a higher probability of being selected. A knowledge test showed that participants adapted their individual conceptual knowledge to the collective knowledge. This incidental learning shows that people harness collective knowledge just by navigation with tag clouds.