Peer Review

Design Principles for Online Communities

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Feb 3, 2026 by Faculty Development

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

Building community is a fundamentally different activity than writing computer code: code does not write back and code does not respond strategically to one?s actions. Reviews theory on conditions that are necessary for cooperation. Suggests that without some elements there is little or no hope that cooperative relationships will emerge and persist. Presented at the Harvard Conference on the Internet and Society. Also published in PC Update 15(5): 58-60. June 1998.

Type of Material:

Reference Material - dated - 1998

Recommended Uses:

social scientists in economics, poltical science, and sociology

Technical Requirements:

web browser

Identify Major Learning Goals:

The author concludes that this is "a very brief discussion of work on cooperation and collective action, [and that] there are interesting implications even in these abbreviated comments.

This is strictly a reference piece.

Target Student Population:

College General Ed, Graduate School, Professional

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

basic collective action theory

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: This essay covers different aspects of how collective action theory, through things like Common Pool Resources, thouhg dated, it can help us understand online communities.
Concerns:: The essay is nearly 30 years old and could use an interclaratory paragraph that situated its argument in the literature that came after its publication.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: This essay progresses through different sections and subsections to explain how an online community might be designed to be more sustainable in terms of its efficiency and efficaciousness. It lays out, defines, explains, and examples important terms from the collective action literature.
Concerns:: There are no learning objectives or prequisite knowledge listed in the essay. Though, these types of essays that make theoretical arguments about some empirical phenomenon typically lack these elements.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: There are headings, subheadings, and paragraphs throughout this web page. It's readable by those with and without screen readers.
Concerns:: This web page looks like something designed 30 years ago, but without any tables, images, or illustrations.

Other Issues and Comments:: The content would be improved with an interclaratory paragraph that situated the argument in the past and the future literature on this topic.
Creative Commons: