The level of participation and motivation is sometimes skewed within citizen cyber science projects where only a few volunteers do a majority of the work. These over-participating volunteers are called super volunteers and they exist in many projects, but they are still pushed to provide work through the same motivational aspects as other volunteers. 

Super Volunteers


Participants who play a role in which they directly participate are considered to be at a micro-level of participation. These participants are directly involved in the collection, and analysis of data ore they participate through volunteer computing as well.

Micro-level of participation

At a macro level of participation, volunteers manage project documentation, conduct personal research on the internet, and engage in specific roles in project communities. 

Macro-level of participation

- Micro-level of participation
- Macro-level of participation 
- Super-volunteers

Ohio State University, Columbus

Motivation instills in these individuals through: 

- interest in the research topic, 
- learning new information, 
- contributing to original research,
- enjoying the research task,
- sharing the same goals and values as the project, 
- helping others and feeling part of a team, 
- recognition of contribution and feedback on contribution

Motivation for individuals to participate in citizen science 

Jennett, Charlene; Kloetzer, Laure; Schneider, Daniel; Iacovides, Ioanna; Cox, Anna; Gold, Margaret; Fuchs, Brian; Eveleigh, Alexandra; Methieu, Kathleen; Ajani, Zoya and Talsi, Yasmin (2016). Motivations, learning and creativity in online citizen science. Journal of Science Communication, 15(3), article no. A05. 

Motivations, learning and creativity in online citizen
science

This map details where the motivationof the citizen science volunteers stems from and how the volunteers continue to stay motivated to work.

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