Methodological Design and Empirical Approach

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to identify trade-off decisions in community joining and to explain why. As open regimes differ widely in their contextual setting, care in comparative analysis is required (Boudreau 2010). Strong influence factors for community joining are present, but they are not very measurable for research. These influence factors can skew joining decisions, blur real preferences, or override trade-offs. For instance, there are socializing effects and “we-feeling” from a social point of view (Hinds and Bailey 2003), as well as prospect effects (Kahneman and Tversky 1979) and endowment effects (Carmon and Ariely 2000) from a psychological viewpoint. From a market analysis point of view, the availability of competing communities or certain passionately perceived products can impact the joining decision. Previously existing ties and word of mouth can direct a participant into a specific community, even though the participant never reflected on the community characteristics.