Network-Enabled Collaborative Problem Solving
Network-Enabled Collaborative Problem Solving
People working together can accomplish tasks and solve problems that far exceed the capabilities of a single individual. In this paper, we consider how people collaborate when solving problems and the role of networks in supporting this collaboration. We consider what aspects of problem-solving are best performed alone, what is best done in collaboration with others, and the communication needed to support collaboration while solving complex problems. We also consider the cognitive processes and mental representations involved in problem-solving. When people collaborate, cognitive processes and problem representations are socially distributed. This means that it is important to understand the dynamics of information transmission and transformation in networks comprised of human problem-solving agents; i.e. social networks. Understanding the effect of social network variables on the quality and timing of problem-solving outcomes is, we suggest, a key factor in developing supportive socio-technical interventions for groups of problem-solving agents.
human problem solving, collaborative problem solving, network science, distributed cognition, collaboration technologies, situated cognition, coordination theory, crowdsourcing
Poltrock, Steven
64034e64-6679-4574-a07a-be02c088d56d
Smart, Paul R
cd8a3dbf-d963-4009-80fb-76ecc93579df
Poltrock, Steven
64034e64-6679-4574-a07a-be02c088d56d
Smart, Paul R
cd8a3dbf-d963-4009-80fb-76ecc93579df
Poltrock, Steven and Smart, Paul R
(2010)
Network-Enabled Collaborative Problem Solving.
1st ITA Workshop on Network-Enabled Cognition: The Contribution of Social and Technological Networks to Human Cognition, Maryland, United States.
(In Press)
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
People working together can accomplish tasks and solve problems that far exceed the capabilities of a single individual. In this paper, we consider how people collaborate when solving problems and the role of networks in supporting this collaboration. We consider what aspects of problem-solving are best performed alone, what is best done in collaboration with others, and the communication needed to support collaboration while solving complex problems. We also consider the cognitive processes and mental representations involved in problem-solving. When people collaborate, cognitive processes and problem representations are socially distributed. This means that it is important to understand the dynamics of information transmission and transformation in networks comprised of human problem-solving agents; i.e. social networks. Understanding the effect of social network variables on the quality and timing of problem-solving outcomes is, we suggest, a key factor in developing supportive socio-technical interventions for groups of problem-solving agents.
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Problem_Solvingv3.pdf
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Accepted/In Press date: 31 March 2010
Additional Information:
Event Dates: 22nd September 2009
Venue - Dates:
1st ITA Workshop on Network-Enabled Cognition: The Contribution of Social and Technological Networks to Human Cognition, Maryland, United States, 2009-09-22
Keywords:
human problem solving, collaborative problem solving, network science, distributed cognition, collaboration technologies, situated cognition, coordination theory, crowdsourcing
Organisations:
Web & Internet Science
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 267741
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/267741
PURE UUID: d9fb043a-6382-4855-a084-202f4a7a3500
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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2010 14:08
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:15
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Contributors
Author:
Steven Poltrock
Author:
Paul R Smart
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