Scientists@Home: what drives the quantity and quality of online citizen science participation?

PLoS One. 2014 Apr 1;9(4):e90375. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090375. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Online citizen science offers a low-cost way to strengthen the infrastructure for scientific research and engage members of the public in science. As the sustainability of online citizen science projects depends on volunteers who contribute their skills, time, and energy, the objective of this study is to investigate effects of motivational factors on the quantity and quality of citizen scientists' contribution. Building on the social movement participation model, findings from a longitudinal empirical study in three different citizen science projects reveal that quantity of contribution is determined by collective motives, norm-oriented motives, reputation, and intrinsic motives. Contribution quality, on the other hand, is positively affected only by collective motives and reputation. We discuss implications for research on the motivation for participation in technology-mediated social participation and for the practice of citizen science.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Internet*
  • Least-Squares Analysis
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Research*
  • Science*

Grants and funding

Sources of funding: This work was supported by a National Science Foundation grant IIS-1149745. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.