New Editor Experiences/Korean participant introduction/en
2017 Korean research introduction
Hello!
We are a team of researchers working for the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that spreads free knowledge around the world by operating Wikipedia and other projects. We are conducting research that seeks to better understand how people use Wikipedia and other websites, so we can make Wikipedia a better resource for people around the world. This project is taking place in late May 2017 and focuses on people in South Korea.
Thank you for your time! We are eager to learn from you. This page contains answers to some of the common questions about the project. If you have a question this page does not answer, you are welcome to email our recruiter, Soohyun Pae, at spae@wikimedia.org.
Signed,
Abbey Ripstra
lead design researcher, Wikimedia Foundation
aripstra@wikimedia.org
Neil Patel Quinn
product analyst, Wikimedia Foundation
nquinn@wikimedia.org
Why are you doing this research?
Tens of thousands of people edit Wikipedia every month. Those people come from many different backgrounds, have many different reasons for editing, and do many different things on Wikipedia. When we understand more about those differences and similarities, we can find better ways to support people when they edit.
Why did you contact me?
We contacted you because you’ve participated in the Korean Wikipedia in some way and we want to learn more about your experiences! We might have emailed you using the email address you gave when you registered at the Korean Wikipedia, or gotten your name from another member of the Korean Wikipedia community who thought we should talk to you.
How are you doing this research?
We are conducting around 50 in-person interviews with people in South Korea where we will discuss how they use the internet and what experiences they have had editing Wikipedia.
Can I choose not to participate?
Of course. You do not have to participate, and if you do choose to participate, you can change your mind at any time, including during the interview itself.
What language will you conduct the interviews in?
We will speak in the language that is most comfortable for the person we’re talking to. There are both Korean and English speaking researchers on our team.
Have you done other projects like this?
In the past, we have done projects in Mexico, India, Nigeria, and Indonesia which used similar methods but focused instead on how we could better serve people who might appreciate or need free knowledge, but weren’t accessing Wikipedia.
We will be doing a similar project focused on how people contribute to Wikipedia in the Czech Republic in June.
What is Reboot?
Reboot is an organization that researches and designs social programs. They are partnering with us to help conduct this research project. Here is a link to their website.
What will you do with what you learn from me?
As we interview more people, we will look for general patterns or themes across the interviews. These patterns and themes will become research findings that will support the work of the Wikimedia Foundation. Because we will cover a lot of topics and do not want to miss anything you say, we will take notes about the conversations, and possibly photos and videos of you using technology. We will ask you for permission before doing so, and will only use information based on your indicated preferences.
Can I see the results of the research?
Yes, of course! After we complete the research in South Korea, and in Czech Republic, we will produce a report and share it. Here is where we will share that report when it is completed. It will be in English, but we will work to have a summary translated into Korean.