Knowledge Conversion in Massive Peers: A Preliminary Study on Mutualistic Co-Presence

This study aims to investigate massive peers, which is an unique characteristics of Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG), and to empirically explore its role on knowledge conversion driven by different types of motivations from an ecological perspective. A number of researchers had investigated learning behaviors in the MMOG virtual environment, however, theoretical justifications of collaborative learning and helping behaviors among massive peers is still under-researched. To bridge this gap, this study proposes two new constructs of mutualistic co-presence based on the theory of symbiosis in the field of ecology, and integrates with technology-based collaborative learning streams of research to theoretically explore the patterns of knowledge conversion in MMOG. PLS analyses on a preliminary data of 87 MMOG participants show that there are strong correlations between different motivation profiles and knowledge conversions.