Background
In recent years online innovation contests have gained popularity since the internet facilitates access to problem-solvers. In these contests, individuals decide freely, whether to join a contest (self-select in), or leave a contest (self-select out). Extant research assumes that this self-selection process is beneficial based on the premise that self-selecting individuals know more about their capabilities and knowledge than the publisher of the task (Geiger & Schader, 2014; Afuah & Tucci, 2012). In sharp contrast to its importance, the principle of self-selection in crowdsourcing is hardly investigated and hence understood. There is no guarantee that the voluntary and open character of innovation contests leads to efficient self-selection of problem-solvers.

Aim
The aim of this thesis is to investigate how to trigger efficient self-selection of problem-solvers into a crowdsourcing ideation contest.

Method
Literature research, analysis of quantitative empirical data collected in a longitudinal field study (data will be provided).

Language
English

Requirements
Proficiency in using R as tool of data analysis

If you are interested in writing your thesis on this topic, please contact:
Dr. Kathrin Reinsberger (kathrin.reinsberger@wu.ac.at).