Community Engagement Insights 2016-17 Report

Across audiences Editors Affiliates Program Leaders Developers
Goal 1 - "Improving new editor engagement"
Goal 2 - "Improving community health"
Goal 3 - "Improving collaboration and communications between the Foundation and communities"
Goal 4 - "Improving collaboration and communications around software development"
Goal 5 - "Improving collaboration with affiliates related to partnerships"
Goal 6 - "Improving software for contributors"
Goal 7 - "Increasing software awareness and use"
Goal 8 - "Growing the Wikimedia technical community"


Question 536 (TC54) edit

How many years have you been involved in the Wikimedia movement as a technical contributor, including giving feedback about software, testing products, and contributing software code?


Median = 4
11% did not select an option [?]

1 – 1 year or less (19%)
2 – 2 (11%)
3 – 3 (14%)
4 – 4 (8%)
5 – 5 (0%)
6 – 6 (2%)
7 – 7 (10%)
8 – 8 (6%)
9 – 9 (5%)
10 – 10 (13%)
11 – 11 (2%)
12 – 12 (3%)
13 – 13 (2%)
14 – 14 (2%)
15 – 15 or more (5%)
From the technical contributors who participated in this question, the median number of years reported for being involved in the movement as a technical contributor is 4 years.


Question 538 (TC29) edit

This question has few responses.

Be cautious with interpreting the results. Read more >>

What are the three (3) most important areas, if any, that need improvement at Wikimedia technical events in order to attract new developers?

Participants could select more than one option

22% did not select an option [?]

1 – General information about the event (17%)
2 – Information about the program and each session (22%)
3 – Information about sessions for newcomers (22%)
4 – Information about speakers (9%)
5 – Information about other participants (4%)
6 – Background information about Wikimedia tech (13%)
7 – Remote participation before and after the event (26%)
8 – Remote participation during the event (39%)
9 – Registration process (0%)
10 – Travel sponsorship process (26%)
11 – Call for participation process (22%)
12 – Look & feel of the event website (0%)
13 – Timing or length of the event (0%)
14 – Evening social activities (0%)
15 – Day care for kids (4%)
16 – Alternative activities for partners (4%)
17 – Other (explain) (13%)


Question 539 (TC31) edit

This question has few responses.

Be cautious with interpreting the results. Read more >>

What are the three (3) most important areas, if any, that need improvement at Wikimedia technical events in order to improve collaboration?

Participants could select more than one option

30% did not select an option [?]

1 – General information about the event (9%)
2 – Information about the program and each session (9%)
3 – Information about sessions for newcomers (4%)
4 – Information about speakers (9%)
5 – Information about other participants (4%)
6 – Background information about Wikimedia tech (17%)
7 – Remote participation before and after the event (30%)
8 – Remote participation during the event (43%)
9 – Registration process (0%)
10 – Travel sponsorship process (22%)
11 – Call for participation process (22%)
12 – Look & feel of the event website (0%)
13 – Timing or length of the event (4%)
14 – Evening social activities (0%)
15 – Day care for kids (0%)
16 – Alternative activities for partners (4%)
17 – Other (explain): (13%)


Question 540 (TC32) edit

This question has few responses.

Be cautious with interpreting the results. Read more >>

For developer events that you cannot attend, what would be your ideal method of participating remotely?

Participants could select more than one option

22% did not select an option [?]

1 – Live hangouts (48%)
2 – IRC (48%)
3 – Talk page discussions (13%)
4 – Other (open) (13%)


Question 541 (TC38) edit

This question has few responses.

Be cautious with interpreting the results. Read more >>

Have you ever have felt uncomfortable or unqualified to attend a Wikimedia technical event?


Median = 2

1 – No (85%)
2 – Yes (15%)
15% of technical contributors who participated in this question reported that they have felt uncomfortable or unqualified to attend a Wikimedia technical event


Question 544 (TC51) edit

This question has few responses.

Be cautious with interpreting the results. Read more >>

Do you attend developer events that are not related to Wikimedia?


Median = 1
10% selected "Not sure" [?]

1 – No (37%)
2 – Yes (63%)


Question 546.01 (TC21) edit

In general, the people in the Wikimedia technical community are: - Unfriendly:Friendly

Note: This question showed a scale between 1 to 5.

Median = 4

1 – 1 (3%)
2 – 2 (6%)
3 – 3 (12%)
4 – 4 (49%)
5 – 5 (30%)
From the technical contributors who participated in this question, the median response was number 4 towards "friendly."


Question 546.02 (TC21) edit

In general, the people in the Wikimedia technical community are: - Disrespectful:Respectful


Median = 4

1 – 1 (1%)
2 – 2 (7%)
3 – 3 (20%)
4 – 4 (38%)
5 – 5 (33%)
From the technical contributors who participated in this question, the median response was number 4 towards "respectiful."


Question 546.03 (TC21) edit

In general, the people in the Wikimedia technical community are: - Not diverse:Diverse


Median = 3

1 – 1 (3%)
2 – 2 (16%)
3 – 3 (36%)
4 – 4 (25%)
5 – 5 (19%)
From the technical contributors who participated in this question, the median response was number 3, between both not diverse and diverse."



Question 546.04 (TC21) edit

In general, the people in the Wikimedia technical community are: - Unwelcoming:Welcoming


Median = 4

1 – 1 (0%)
2 – 2 (12%)
3 – 3 (30%)
4 – 4 (36%)
5 – 5 (22%)
From the technical contributors who participated in this question, the median response was number 4 towards "welcoming."


Question 547 (TC26) edit

Which of the following best describe the reason(s) you contribute your technical skills to Wikimedia? (select all that apply)

Participants could select more than one option

3% did not select an option [?]

1 – I want to support the Wikimedia mission (82%)
2 – I want to support free software (75%)
3 – I want to help editors (72%)
4 – I want to improve readers’ experience (52%)
5 – I want to learn & acquire experience (63%)
6 – I want to because it's part of my studies or research (15%)
7 – I have to because it’s part of my job (20%)
8 – Other (specify) (6%)


Question 548.01 (TC37) edit

This question has few responses.

Be cautious with interpreting the results. Read more >>

This question was only seen by developers with 1 year of experience or less or 2

To what extent are the following MediaWiki.org resources useful or not useful for you to get involved in making technical contributions? - MediaWiki.org homepage

Median = 3
6% selected "" [?]

1 – Not at all useful (20%)
2 – A little useful (27%)
3 – Somewhat useful (7%)
4 – Very useful (47%)


Question 548.02 (TC37) edit

This question has few responses.

Be cautious with interpreting the results. Read more >>

Note: this question was only shown to developer with 1 or 2 years of experience:

To what extent are the following MediaWiki.org resources useful or not useful for you to get involved in making technical contributions? - MediaWiki.org search

Median = 3
13% selected "" [?]

1 – Not at all useful (29%)
2 – A little useful (7%)
3 – Somewhat useful (36%)
4 – Very useful (29%)


Question 548.03 (TC37) edit

This question has few responses.

Be cautious with interpreting the results. Read more >>

FILTER: Developers with 1 year of experience or less or 2

To what extent are the following MediaWiki.org resources useful or not useful for you to get involved in making technical contributions? - Documentation for newcomers

Median = 3
6% selected "" [?]

1 – Not at all useful (0%)
2 – A little useful (13%)
3 – Somewhat useful (40%)
4 – Very useful (47%)


Question 548.04 (TC37) edit

This question has few responses.

Be cautious with interpreting the results. Read more >>

FILTER: Developers with 1 year of experience or less or 2

To what extent are the following MediaWiki.org resources useful or not useful for you to get involved in making technical contributions? - Support / getting answers

Median = 4

1 – Not at all useful (6%)
2 – A little useful (13%)
3 – Somewhat useful (25%)
4 – Very useful (56%)


Question 548.05 (TC37) edit

This question has few responses.

Be cautious with interpreting the results. Read more >>

FILTER: Developers with 1 year of experience or less or 2

To what extent are the following MediaWiki.org resources useful or not useful for you to get involved in making technical contributions? - Finding first task/project to work on

Median = 3

1 – Not at all useful (6%)
2 – A little useful (6%)
3 – Somewhat useful (47%)
4 – Very useful (41%)


Question 548.06 (TC37) edit

This question has few responses.

Be cautious with interpreting the results. Read more >>

FILTER: Developers with 1 year of experience or less or 2

To what extent are the following MediaWiki.org resources useful or not useful for you to get involved in making technical contributions? - Finding experienced peers

Median = 4
6% selected "" [?]

1 – Not at all useful (13%)
2 – A little useful (13%)
3 – Somewhat useful (6%)
4 – Very useful (69%)


Question 548.07 (TC37) edit

This question has few responses.

Be cautious with interpreting the results. Read more >>

FILTER: Developers with 1 year of experience or less or 2

To what extent are the following MediaWiki.org resources useful or not useful for you to get involved in making technical contributions? - Other (specify)

Median = 2.5
50% selected "" [?]

1 – Not at all useful (50%)
2 – A little useful (0%)
3 – Somewhat useful (0%)
4 – Very useful (50%)


Question 552.01 (TC28) edit

This question has few responses.

Be cautious with interpreting the results. Read more >>

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following:

The Wikimedia Foundation's participation in the following programs helps us achieve our goals to recruit new volunteer developers, implement new features, and promote Wikimedia as an open source project. - Google Summer of Code (GSoC)

Median = 4
11% selected "No opinion" [?]

1 – Strongly disagree (38%)
2 – Disagree (0%)
3 – Neither agree nor disagree (0%)
4 – Agree (38%)
5 – Strongly agree (25%)


Question 552.02 (TC28) edit

This question has few responses.

Be cautious with interpreting the results. Read more >>

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following:

The Wikimedia Foundation's participation in the following programs helps us achieve our goals to recruit new volunteer developers, implement new features, and promote Wikimedia as an open source project. - Outreachy

Median = 4
22% selected "No opinion" [?]

1 – Strongly disagree (43%)
2 – Disagree (0%)
3 – Neither agree nor disagree (0%)
4 – Agree (43%)
5 – Strongly agree (14%)

Question list edit

Goal 9 - "Improving information sharing for program leaders and affiliates"
Goal 10 - "Developing the capacity of affiliates"
Goal 11 - "Developing the capacity of program leaders"
Goal 12 - "Improving access to research materials by contributors"
Goal 13 - "Improving understanding of movement fundraising and fundraising needs"
Goal 14 - "Increasing awareness of GLAM and Libraries"
Goal 15 - "Increasing knowledge and capacity related to policy issues"