Invited presentation at Citizen Cyberscience Summit 2012 on the topic of designing citizen science technologies and experiences to motivate contribution.

1. Motivation by Design:
Technologies,
Experiences,
and Incentives
Andrea Wiggins
16 February, 2012
Citizen Cyberscience Summit

2. Personal Interests
• More than just motivation
• Motivations
• Intrinsic (altruism)
• Extrinsic (money)
• Personal Values (domain, science)
• Individual Goals (contributing)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/verbeeldingskr8/4875710270/

3. • Scientific and personal
interests must converge
by design
• Influences almost every
part of science and participation
• Promoting satisfaction & commitment
• Job design: autonomy, role expansion, etc.
• Incentives: material and symbolic rewards
Alignment of Interests
http://www.flickr.com/photos/freefoto/5982549938/

4. Which Came First?
• Science-first design
• Tech focuses on data entry
• Experiences focus on
simplified science
• Citizen-first design
• Tech focuses on ease of use
• Experience adapts existing leisure practices
• Self-rewarded & socially rewarded
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hammer51012/495218105/

5. Survey Says... (n=65)
• None:23%
• Public acknowledgement:
55%
• Volunteer appreciation
events: 31%
• Free equipment/supplies/
training: 26%
• Promo items: 18%
• Certificate: 12%
• Top contributor listings:
9%
• Personal performance
ratings: 8%
• Co-authorship: 8%
• Role advancement: 6%
• Editor/moderator
privileges: 2%
• Naming privileges: 2%

6. Data Entry is Dull
• Practically everyone hates data entry
• Major hurdle for participation
• Limits who participates
• More steps = lower return
• Usability is paramount
• Make it easy & worthwhile
http://www.flickr.com/photos/crownjewel82/2892965663/

7. Games People Play
• “Gamification” of science
• Games for data
collection &
processing
• Games people already play
• Pervasive and mobile participation
• Costs are always higher than expected
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jontintinjordan/2788526030/

8. Implications for Design
• Who will participate?
• Why will they
participate?
• How will they be
rewarded?
• How can experiences
be expanded?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andymangold/4335799638/

9. Take-Aways
• Up-front in-depth
consideration of
audience and
alignment of interests
• Technologies make rewarding people
easier, and good design is not optional
• Design experiences to offer satisfying
opportunities for individual development,
social interaction, & deeper engagement
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skipnclick/2945026921/

10. Thanks!
• Case Study Projects: eBird,
Great Sunflower Project,
& Mountain Watch
• Collaborators: Kevin Crowston
and many others
• U.S. NSF Grants
09-43049 & 11-11107
http://citsci.syr.edu
http://www.andreawiggins.com