Research:Projects/Wikipedia Editor Satisfaction Survey
Key Personnel edit
- Manuel Merz
Project Summary edit
The Wikipedia Editor Satisfaction Survey gives a detailed view of the German and English Wikipedia editors' satisfaction and commitment. It is conducted in July 2011 by Wikimedia Deutschland in cooperation with the Wikimedia Foundation. The study gives insights into important factors that influence user satisfaction and commitment. Data will be broken down according to a variety of aspects, including user maturity, user activities, and social role within the Wikipedia movement.
Methods edit
Theoretical Background: Based on the tasks that various users perform, a multivariate, empirical typology of active Wikipedia users will be developed. Diagnostic criteria have been adapted from Job Diagnostic Survey (Hackman & Oldham 1976) and Social Cognitive Theory of Internet Uses and Gratifications (LaRose & Eastin 2004). A sample of active editors of DE and EN Wikipedia will be invited to participate in a web-based survey. This allows for motivational benchmarking not only as a comparison between different roles within the community, but also between similar roles in different Wikipedia communities. This way, the strengths and weaknesses of each community can be systematically identified and analyzed.
Recruitment method: Recruitment is done via CentralNotice banner, visible to active Wikipedia editors (EN and DE). The banner is active for one week and targeted at a subsample of editors only (random 1 out of 10 editors for EN). After a user clicks “edit”, the banner will be displayed for 3 minutes per user. This way both anonymous and logged-in editors can be included.
Dissemination edit
Findings and anonymized datasets will be shared with the Wikimedia Foundation, the Wikipedia community and the scientific community in the form of presentations, open content & open access publications and anonymized datasets. Preliminary results will be presented at Wikimania 2011 in Haifa, Israel, 4-7 August 2011.
Wikimedia Policies, Ethics, and Human Subjects Protection edit
This project was designed to avoid problematic ethical implications from the start by following the German Psychological Society’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.
Benefits for the Wikimedia community edit
The project is designed to give a differentiated view of the English and German Wikipedia communities. This differentiated view will allow Wikimedia to strategize about ways to effectively support active users in their different roles within Wikipedia (e.g. support of new users and prevention of contributor burnout) and to further professionalize its communication campaigns. Last not least the community itself can look forward to interesting insights worthy of discussion.
Time Line edit
Data collection phase: July 11-18, 2011
References edit
- Merz, Manuel (2011): Understanding Editor Satisfaction and Commitment. First impressions of the Wikipedia Editor Satisfaction Survey. Wikimania 2011, Haifa, Israel, August 4-7
- Merz, Manuel (2010): Wer editiert warum in Wikipedia? Ausblick auf die Wikipediabefragung 2011. Wikipedia Academy 2010, Frankfurt University, Germany, November 19-20
- Merz, Manuel & Nicola Döring (2010): Aktive Beteiligung an Wikipedia aus sozial-kognitiver Perspektive. 47. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychologie, Bremen, Germany, September 26-30
External links edit
Contacts edit
Wikimedia Deutschland
Gesellschaft zur Förderung Freien Wissens e. V.
Postfach 30 32 43
10729 Berlin
Germany
E-Mail: denis.barthel@wikimedia.de