Relevance & Research Question: The intensive use of online survey management tools becomes a common method for data collection. This research identifies key aspects influencing the process of filling in an online questionnaire in order to define what motivates participants to take part in a survey.
Methods & Data: Our metadata is provided by the survey management system Unipark (http://www.unipark.info/). It was collected via online questionnaires of two main related projects (Survey A, n1=140 & Survey B, n2=250) that are running in the frame of the “eScience – Research Network Saxony” project (http://www.escience-sachsen.de/) as well as within a survey run by the central coordination of the project (Survey C n3=765). All projects investigate the usage of Web 2.0 services in terms of an academic task. As a conceptual framework for understanding the scientists’ behaviors, we use the fish model in 4 main dual-related factors as described below (Mohamed, B.; Pscheida, D. & Koehler, T. (2012). The Fish Model: a conceptual framework for enhancing e-research collaboration. (Under reviewing)).
Results: (a) Task-time factor, the main task of filling in an online survey can be splitted into multiple sub tasks (e.g. reading, writing, searching...), these tasks regarding estimated time of filling in, should be considered. (b) Activities-believes: The decision whether or not to take part in and finish an online survey excrete different activities (e.g. communication, breaking up …) which strongly influenced by participants’ beliefs. (c) Support-context: what cultures of disciplines are more aware of Web 2.0 technologies? The disciplines of mathematics-natural science and engineers are clearly winning the subject race for participation. (d) Finally for the Incentive-ethics of what incentives should be provided for participants and protected by ethical research issue? Therefore, the intrinsic motivation of participants was the reason of contribution. Furthermore, the trust issue could drive the process of delivery.
Added Value: The use of the fish model assists our understanding for observing online behaviors of junior and senior scientists during taking part in an online questionnaire. In addition, it provides an approach for how to use meta-data of an online survey to analyze response behavior.