I’ve been talking, reading, and thinking about why people contribute to collective efforts – specifically online databases but in general as well. I consistently come across various versions of what I’ve seen most aptly termed as connective efficacy. That’s the name of a relatively obscure variable that is “an expectation that information contributed to the database [or whatever] will reach other members of the collective” (Kalman et al, 2002, p. 125). I think it’s a great succinct term to communicate that idea – which is a really important part of why people contribute to collective projects from open source software to public park fundraisers. Naming something can give it a relevance and power it hasn’t had before. Maybe if I hear the term around more often I’ll have a higher connective efficacy perception for this blog

Kalman, M. E., Monge, P., Fulk, J., & Henino, R. (2002). Motivations to Resolve Communication Dilemmas in Database-Mediated Collaboration. Communication Research, 29(2), 125-154.

This is another good reference on the topic: http://www.uib.es/depart/deeweb/seminaris/pdfs/KnowSharingDilemmas.pdf

UPDATE 1/8/06: This post is the number one google result right now for connective efficacy – not in quotes. That’s somewhat astounding to me given the traffic I get here. I think it says more about the uncommonness of the term than the google juice of this site. Probably recency plays a role in the rankings – I’ll check back later to see if I’ve been usurped. 2/15/06: Still #1.