World Community Grid Volunteer Study

World Community GridVolunteer Study

World Community Grid

Rationale for Study

World Community Grid has been around since 2004

Last significant changes to website were in 2009

Want to know if we understood our user base, who they were and what motivates them to participate.Clarify direction for future enhancements and work items


Study components

Used IBM’s user experience strategy group to conduct study of our current and past volunteers.

Study consisted of: Online survey, which took about 15 minutes to complete

Phone based focus group sessions


Who was invited and who participated?

Survey E-mailed survey invites to all volunteers opting to receive email

Survey open for almost two weeks, reminder sent about halfway through

15,627 completed survey (3.6% total response rate)

Member type Number Sent Number Opened % Opened

Active 59,538 22,259 37%

Inactive 370,800 43,547 12%

Reminder 421,669 67,314 16%


Focus Groups

Used survey data and cluster analysis results to determine best groupings for focus groups

Proceeded with six groups: 1. Active, technical volunteers2. Active, non-technical volunteers3. Passive volunteers4. Team members5. Inactive/No longer members6. Non-members

Sessions lasted 1 hour each Questions were tailored for each group


Demographics

Almost

90%Male

Occupation

Age


Third of respondents from the US


75% of respondents have been contributing for more than a year


Why join World Community Grid? To support scientific research

Support scientific research

Use my unused computer power

Participate in distributed computing

Good way to make a difference

Support a particular research project

Encouraged by employer/university

Join a team effort

Enjoy earning points for my contribution

Competitive aspects

Want to collect the badges

Points system is better

Badges more attainable

Other


11%

9%

11%

14%

16%

33%

49%

58%Contributing to the research community ingeneral

Contributing to a specific research area

Volunteering in generalLearning about the work in a specific

research areaBeing a part of a team effort

Earning points

Following rankings and statistics

Other

Why do you contribute to other distributed/volunteer computing communities? (N=5984)

Participating in other DCsHave you contributed to other distributed/volunteer computing communities?

Over 100 participants stated that they preferred other volunteer computing

communities to WCG because of the way they

handle GPU.


How do respondents view us differently from other grids?

World Community Grid’s focus on humanitarian causes solving practical issues seen as key motivator and differentiator.

Contributing results back to public domain GPU cited as significant reason respondents prefer

other distributed computing communities

Focus on World Community Grid’s humanitarian goals in

marketing materials and strengthen by providing

examples of projects that solve “real world”, “practical”

issues. Add more GPU projects.

Recommendation


Almost half of respondents installed the software from World Community Grid.


Almost half of respondents disabled the WCG screensaver.


What would increase your interest? Understanding impact of volunteer’s contribution

Better understanding of the impact of my contribution

More research projects that interest me

Better understanding of World Community Grid ‘s achievements

More opportunities to learn about the science

Simpler, less technical explanations of the science

More technical explanations of the science

Easier to use software

I don’t know

Better recognition for my contribution

Nothing can be done to increase my involvement

Easier to use website

More active community on social media

More or easier to use tools or recruiting other volunteers

A community space that is more accessible to casual volunteer

Better recognition for recruiting other volunteers

More active World Community Grid forum community

Other (please specify)


Want more frequent, less technical communications

“Would be nice if there was a way to get a short summary on goals of the project. Needs to be presented

in layman’s perspective. Some presentations have been really, really technically detailed. Even

though I have a good educational background, I didn’t understand - friends

wouldn’t understand”

Create a standardized process, which is easy and consistent for researchers

to provide updates. Layering of information:

present high-level information with ability to

drill into more detailed version.

Want less technical but more frequent updates from projects. Volunteers understand that researchers are busy, but want to hear more about results and how their contributions are making a difference.

Insight

“Couldn’t find information that I could understand. Looked at forums and some

forum topics from the researchers. Tried to read

through the material, pretty technical”

Recommendation


Most promote World Community Grid

Share

Almost 2 in 3 promote World Community Grid to friends or family.

Not Share

When asked why they haven’t

promoted World Community Grid:

48% did not think

family/friendswould be

interested.

31% just hadn’t

thought about it.

34% would like

more materials about the

program to sent them.


Few share on social media

When asked why they share on

social media:

70% wanted to

encourage others to

join.

14% wanted to share your sense of

accomplishment with others.

59% don’t share because

they don’t use social

media.

ShareNot ShareAround 1 in 5 share

World Community Grid information on social

media.


Why stop contributing? Mostly due to impact on computer


Security and performance concerns are barriers to joining

“Downloading programs is very easy nowadays, not a problem for anyone. It’s just the security issues, what will the program do when I'm not there?”

Need to explain the software and underlying technology, especially focusing on security and computer

performance. Beginning with non-technical explanations, then move to more technical details for those who want

to learn more. Materials should also address World Community Grid commitment to safe, unobtrusive

software.

Security and performance questions are obstacles to gaining new members

Finding

Recommendation


Website feedback

Project selection trickiest part of registration

Over 40% visit the website at least monthly

My Statistics, News & Updates and Research project information most accessed

Volunteers least familiar with Twitter Integration, Partner and Marketing Toolkit pages

45% have heard of but never visited Forums


Other themes from survey comments

Appetite for more GPU projects

Appetite for more badges (5, 10, 15 year etc.)

Printable certificates to acknowledge contribution

Technical issues with adjusting CPU settings

Frustration that the BOINC points don’t carry over to World Community Grid

Similarly, lack of standardized points


So what are we doing?

More approachable website: New information architecture and visual design for our website; more user-friendly explanations of what we are and how program works.

Improved communications: More ways to consume it; more volunteer control over how to receive it.

More accessible research information: Improved accessibility of information about projects, what has been accomplished and what the researchers are working towards. Layering of information – better non-technical summaries as well as more detailed scientific content.


When will the changes appear?

Soon!

We have additional help to build these changes and will start releasing incremental releases shortly

Documents

World Community Grid Volunteer Study