@VOLCROWEwww.volcrowe.org

• Develop new models of motivations for volunteering in the context of non-commercial crowdsourcing projects.

• Evaluate a range of possible interventions in the volunteering process to optimise the user experience.

• Develop an operational understanding of the effective management and organisation of digital volunteering projects.

Aims & Objectives

Big Data (images, movies, audio) Volunteers

Knowledge creation(public good)

A Zooniverse Project

• Extensive data collection• Large scale survey of Zooniverse users following pilot• Ethnographic study with daily diary-keeping• Interviews with volunteers and project organisers

• Analysis and articles• Study of gamised activity published in conference proceedings and full

paper submitted to European Journal of Information Systems• Developed a unique tool for assessing project outcomes and a positioning

matrix; article accepted for publication in Computing in Science and Engineering

• Analysis of the link between participation and learning about to be submitted to the Journal of Science Communication

Project Progress

Social CapitalEngagement

Private Consumption

Public Good

Relative Contribution

Human Capital

Religiosity

0.1

.2.3

.4D

ensi

ty

-4 -2 0 2 4Protective & Ego

0.1

.2.3

.4D

ensi

ty

-4 -2 0 2 4Social

0.1

.2.3

.4D

ensi

ty

-6 -4 -2 0 2Understanding

0.1

.2.3

.4D

ensi

ty

-2 -1 0 1 2 3Career

0.1

.2.3

.4.5

Den

sity

-2 0 2 4 6Relative Contribution

0.2

.4.6

Den

sity

-4 -2 0 2Values

Motivation Factor Scores

X - +

- + -

0

2

4

6

8

10

12L

N_

CL

AS

SIF

ICA

TIO

NS

1.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6 4.0 4.4 4.8

LN_SCIENCE

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

LN

_C

LA

SS

IFIC

AT

ION

S

2.4 2.6 2.8 3.0 3.2 3.4 3.6 3.8 4.0 4.2 4.4 4.6 4.8

LN_PROJECT

Link between human capital

and participation

• Further analysis of the ‘user-side’• More detailed study of the role of relative contribution versus other key

determinants: ‘standing out from the crowd’• Investigation into online and offline social capital and their role in

motivating participation• Analysis of ethnographic work and more detailed understanding of the role

of work versus play

• Develop understanding of the ‘organiser-side’• A detailed analysis of effectiveness of interventions• Use interview data to map organisational structure and model decision

making and management processes

The Year Ahead