A Window on Wikibookians: Surveying their Statuses, Successes, Satisfactions, and Sociocultural Experiences
Suthiporn Sajjapanroj
Curtis J. Bonk
Indiana University
Mimi Miyoung Lee
Meng-Fen Grace Lin
University of Houston
Abstract
The present study explored the experiences of 80 Wikibookians who had developed or were in the process of developing wikibooks. Both online surveys and email interviews were employed to investigate four main factors, including Wikibookian statuses, successes, satisfactions, and sociocultural experiences. The survey data indicated that the majority of these Wikibookians were young males with varying educational backgrounds (i.e., from high school students to those with advanced graduate degrees). A majority of respondents deemed their most recent wikibook activities as successful. Though challenging, very few were frustrated with the Wikibooks environment. These Wikibookians also recognized the multiple roles involved in the development of a wikibook as well as multiple owners or no owner of a final wikibook product. Interestingly, they viewed a wikibook as a way to contribute and share their knowledge, to obtain personal growth and enrichment, and to learn new ideas from others. Several follow-up research avenues are suggested.
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About the Author(s)...
Suthiporn Sajjapanroj is a doctoral candidate in curriculum studies with a minor in inquiry methodology at Indiana University. She has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a finance major as well as a master’s degree in Computers and Engineering Management from Thailand. She has diverse work experience in banking systems, human resource management, and software training. She can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Curt Bonk is Professor of Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University and adjunct in the School of Informatics. He has received the CyberStar Award from the Indiana Information Technology Association, Most Outstanding Achievement Award from the U.S. Distance Learning Association, and Most Innovative Teaching in a Distance Education Program from the State of Indiana. Dr. Bonk is currently researching the online and blended learning, the Web 2.0, and emerging learning technologies. He may be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Mimi Miyoung Lee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at University of Houston. She received her Ph.D in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University at Bloomington in 2004. Her research interests include theories of identity formation, sociological examination of online communities, issues of representation, and critical ethnography. She may be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Grace Lin is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Instructional Technology program at the University of Houston. Dr. Lin is also an adjunct faculty for National Taitung University in Taiwan. Currently, she is investigating the educational use of Web 2.0 tools such as wikibooks and YouTube. In addition, Dr. Lin has been involved with Open Education Resources (OER) research since 2004. She may be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
