Motivation to Participate in an Online Citizen Science Game

Abstract

Online citizen science projects have the potential to engage thousands of participants with scientific research. A small number of projects such as Foldit use an online computer game format. Motivation to participate in Foldit was investigated in a group of 37 players using an online survey, semi-structured interviews and participant observation. Results suggest that contributing to scientific research and an interest in science were among the most important motivations for participation. Interaction with others within the community of participants and the intellectual challenge of the game were also key for the continuing involvement of this group of regular contributors.

Appealing to different motivations in a message to recruit citizen scientists: results of a field experiment

“…For example, Raddick et al [2010] identified 12 motivations for participating in the Galaxy Zoo project, including contributiing to a science project, learning about astronomy, discovery of galaxies few people have seen, community (i.e., meeting people with similar interests), teaching (i.e., useful resource teaching others about astronomy), the beauty of galaxies, finding the work fun, vastness of space (i.e., enjoying considering the scale of the universe), helping (i.e., happy to help), the Zoo (i.e., interest in the Galaxy Zoo project), and astronomy and science (i.e., having general interest in the field). Curtis [2015] identified a similar set of motivations for the Foldit project, including contribution to science, background interest in science, intellectual challenge, curiosity, liking puzzles, liking computer games, to learn something new, friendly competition, visual appeal/aesthetics and relaxing. Reed et al [2013] identified three broader motives, social engagement, interaction with the website and helping.…”

“…First, we removed motivations that only a few participants in prior studies identified as their major motivations. For example, in Curtis [2015], only one or two of the participants identified friendly competition, visual appeal/aesthetics or relaxing as their motivations. Second, we removed motivations that seemed to specific to a particular project and could not be applied to citizen-science projects more generally.…”

“…Recent research [e.g., Curtis, 2015;Kaufman, Flanagan and Punjasthitkul, 2016;Raddick et al, 2010;Reed et al, 2013;Rotman et al, 2012] has identified a variety of motivation for participation in citizen science. For example, Raddick et al [2010] identified 12 motivations for participating in the Galaxy Zoo project, including contributiing to a science project, learning about astronomy, discovery of galaxies few people have seen, community (i.e., meeting people with similar interests), teaching (i.e., useful resource teaching others about astronomy), the beauty of galaxies, finding the work fun, vastness of space (i.e., enjoying considering the scale of the universe), helping (i.e., happy to help), the Zoo (i.e., interest in the Galaxy Zoo project), and astronomy and science (i.e., having general interest in the field).…”

“…Although studies have not examined efficacy of messages, there is an extensive literature examining motivations for participation in citizen-science projects [e.g., Curtis, 2015;Kaufman, Flanagan and Punjasthitkul, 2016;Raddick et al, 2010;Reed et al, 2013;Rotman et al, 2012]. Based on the previous literature, this study aims to examine which motivations are most effective to appeal to in a message to recruit new citizen scientists to have them participate in a citizen-science project.…”

“…In any case, the success of citizen-science projects is heavily dependent on attracting participation from citizen scientists. Many studies have conducted surveys and interviews with citizen scientists to identify the motivations for their participation [e.g., Curtis, 2015;Land-Zandstra et al, 2016a;Nov, Arazy and Anderson, 2011;Raddick et al, 2010;Wright et al, 2015]. Such research suggests factors that are important in motivating citizen scientists to contribute.…”