Hello! My name is Sarah Gilbert. I’m a PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia’s iSchool: School of Library Archival and Information Studies, in Canada whose doctoral research explores why people participate in online communities. So far, my research has focussed on the relationship between different kinds of participation and motivation and the role of learning as a motivation for participating in an online community. I’m also really interested in exploring differences in motivations between online communities.

And that’s where you come in!

I’ve been granted permission by the AskHistorians moderators to ask you why you participate in AskHistorians. I’m interested hearing from people who participate in all kinds of ways: people who lurk, people up upvote and downvote, people who ask questions, people who are or want to be panellists, moderators, first time viewers - everyone! Because this discussion is relevant to my research, the transcript may be used as a data source. If you’d like to participate in the discussion, but not my research, please send me a PM.

I’d love to hear why you participate in the comments, but I’m also looking for people who are willing to share 1-1.5 hours of their time discussing their participation in AskHistorians in an interview. If so, please contact me at [email protected] or via PM.

Edit: I've gotten word that this email address isn't working - if you'd like to contact me via email, please try [email protected]

Edit 2: Thank you so much for all of the amazing responses! I've been redditing since about 6am this morning, and while that's not normally much of an issue, it seems to have made me very tired today! If I haven't responded tonight, I will tomorrow. Also, I plan to continue to monitor this thread, so if you come upon it sometime down the road and want to add your thoughts, please do! I'll be working on the dissertation for the next year, so there's a pretty good chance you won't be too late!

Edit 3, April 27: Again, thanks for all your contributions! I'm still checking this post and veeeeeerrry slowing replying.