-Apologies for cross-posting-
In June, two surveys were carried out at the request of Wikimedia
Nederland: one among editors of the Dutch language Wikipedia, and one among
the general public (the users of Wikipedia).
The first results of these surveys are now available. Below you will find
summaries of the main results, and links to the full reports.
Both surveys provide interesting insights - also in the light of the
ongoing discussion about community health. The challenge for Wikimedia
Nederland now will be to use these to develop better community support and
outreach programmes.
After the summer break, WMNL is planning a discussion with the community to
decide just that.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about these surveys.
*A. Survey among editors - summary of results (link to full report
<https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikimedia/nl/d/d6/Report_survey_NLWP_editors.pdf>)*
*New editors*: A large majority of editors recognizes the importance of a
continuous influx of new editors and feels that new editors are welcome. To
ensure that new editors will not drop out, care and guidance of newbies
must be improved.
*Diversity*: Only 11% of the respondents are women. Everyone recognizes, to
a greater or lesser extent, the disadvantages of limited diversity among
the editors. There is large support for the theory that low participation
of women negatively affects the coverage of topics in Wikipedia. The
atmosphere on Wikipedia is most often cited as a cause for low
participation of women; women mention it much more often as a cause than
men.
*Work Atmosphere*: Opinions are divided about the work atmosphere on the
Dutch Wikipedia. However, there are more editors dissatisfied with the
atmosphere than satisfied. The atmosphere is most frequently characterized
as quarrelsome and distrustful, and quite often also as constructive and
aggressive. A large group of editors on the Dutch Wikipedia has on occasion
been approached in a manner that they considered inappropriate; a small
group admits to having approached others in an inappropriate manner
themselves.
*Conflicts and Conflict Resolution*: The number of conflicts is seen as
high by the editors. Two in five editors state that in the past six months
they have been involved in a situation that felt like a conflict.There are
different opinions on the resolution of the conflicts. There are more
editors who indicate that conflicts are only sometimes or (almost) never
solved in a good way, than those who say this usually or always happens in
a good way. What is also striking is that a fairly large group has no
opinion on the number of conflicts and/or solution thereof.
Egos and stubbornness are considered to play a major role in the emergence
of conflict. Rules/guidelines and moderation by trained people are often
put forward as a solution.
*Communication*: The dialogue (communication) between editors is fragmented
across many channels and occurs in particular via talk pages. The editors
rarely communicate with each outside of Wikipedia, either in person or
online via social media. Wikimedia mailing lists, blogs, newsletters or
notice pages are not frequently read, and attendance of Wikimedia-organized
events in the Netherlands or abroad is limited.
*Wikimedia Nederland*: A large majority of respondents is familiar with
Wikimedia Nederland and about a quarter of the respondents is currently
also a member. (This is not representative of the overall population of
editors - we estimate 10% of active edtiors are members) Generally, the
respondents are satisfied with the (kind of) work WMNL does.
*B. Survey among readers (users) of Wikipedia - summary of results (link
to full report)
<https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikimedia/nl/d/d6/Survey_among_readers_of_Wikipedia_2015.pdf>*
*Knowledge and use of Wikipedia are high, as is satisfaction.*
· Knowledge of Wikipedia and the number of users of Wikipedia have
increased significantly in recent years (2013-2015). Four in five Dutch
people now know about, and use, Wikipedia.
· Levels/frequency of use of Wikipedia have not increased. It is
possible that new users use Wikipedia less intensively.
· More than one tenth of Dutch people said they had installed the
Wikipedia app. That is a very high number.
· In general terms, a large majority thought the articles were very
readable and easy to use. The number of people who thought this was
slightly down on 2013.
*Awareness of matters relating to Wikipedia is falling*
· These are matters such as: the fact that everybody can post and
edit articles, that all text and photos are freely available and that
Wikipedia does not have any profit motive.
· This may also be linked to the arrival of new users who, for the
time being, may be less well-informed.*Slight increase in willingness to
contribute*
· There was a slight increase in the willingness to contribute
between 2013 and 2015. The main reasons people would not wish to write or
edit an article continue to be that people are not interested and/or would
not know what to write about.
Sandra Rientjes
Directeur/Executive Director Wikimedia Nederland
tel. (+31) (0)30 3200238
mob. (+31) (0)6 31786379
www.wikimedia.nl
*Postadres*: * Bezoekadres:*
Postbus 167 Mariaplaats 3
3500 AD Utrecht Utrecht