Work

A Framework for Classifying Participant Motivation that Considers the Typology of Citizen Science Projects

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Citizen science, the participation of the public in scientific projects, is growing significantly, especially with technological developments in recent years. Volunteers are the heart of citizen science projects; therefore, understanding their motivation and how to sustain their participation is the key to success in any citizen science project. Studies on participants of citizen science projects illustrate that there is an association between participant motivation and the type of contribution to projects. Thus, in this paper, we define a motivational framework, which classifies participant motivation taking into account the typologies of citizen science projects. Within this framework, we also take into account the importance of motivation in initiating and sustaining participation. This framework helps citizen science practitioners to have comprehensive knowledge about potential motivational factors that can be used to recruit participants, as well as sustaining participation in their projects.

Source: ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information

DOI: 10.3390/ijgi9120704

Authors: Maryam Lotfian, Jens Ingensand, Maria Antonia Brovelli

Institution: Politecnico di Milano

Language: English

Topic: Geographic Information Systems Studies

Subfield: Geography, Planning and Development

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,056

Funders: Secretário de Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior, Governo do Estado de Parana, Haute école Spécialisée de Suisse Occidentale