An approach to quantitatively measuring collaborative performance in online conversations

Interpersonal dynamics often hinder people from optimizing collaboration. Researchers who monitor the intellectual activity of people as they converse online receive less value when such collaboration is impaired. How can they detect suboptimal collaboration? This study builds on a new metric for measuring collaborative value from the information content of participant contributions to propose a measure of collaborative efficiency, and demonstrates its utility by assessing collaboration around a sample of weblogs. The new collaborative value metric can augment qualitative research by highlighting for deeper investigation conversational themes that triggered elevated collaborative production. Identifying these themes may also define the cognitive box people have built within a collaborative venue. Challenging people to consider fresh ideas by deliberately introducing them into collaborative venues is recommended as the key to overcoming collaborative dysfunction.