This task tracks the writing of a design brief for the first "add a link" structured task type to the Growth team's newcomer tasks feature.
The document will define the goals, target audience, core user job stories, and outline the research and exploration tasks involved in the design of this new "add a link" structured task.
Working doc:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1h3q02oT9ck4FIrDInj6TkSH7_KqpTyJ3CCpyjYdYrLg/
When this ticket is marked as complete, a summary will be posted here. Design sub-tasks to follow will be created under the EPIC T252822.
Design brief summary
Project overview
Present newcomers with a type of structured editing task that gives specific recommendations to add links to Wikipedia articles.
Rationale (Why are we doing this)
Building on the success of newcomer tasks. Our first foray into newcomer task recommendations has shown new users are trying the suggested edits from maintenance templates.
The hypothesis is that by providing easier, more structured tasks in this context will result in even more newcomers attempting and successfully contributing on wiki.
Structured tasks
- Objectives:
- Lower the barrier for meaningful contribution.
- Build a ramp for people to gain skills incrementally.
- Let people find an editing experience that fits them.
- Desired outcomes:
- Increase contributions (especially from mobile).
- Increase number of editors
- Increase editor diversity
- Comprised of 3 main elements:
- Discovery/suggestions: How do users discover that this task is possible to do?
- Structure: What is the task itself? What are the steps? How is the user assisted through it?
- Positive reinforcement: Why will the user want to do more tasks afterward? ---
User Job Stories
| As a newcomer who wants to get involved but doesn’t know how to get started... | Joiner-Inner, Social Changer personas | |
|---|---|---|
| When I | am trying to figure out how to be involved with Wikipedia, | (situation) |
| I want to | quickly make an edit, | (motivation) |
| so that | I feel successful and encouraged to do more. | (expected outcome) |
| As a mobile user wanting easier edits on the go... | Sporadic Mobile reader (Confident mobile contributor) | |
|---|---|---|
| When I | am using the internet on my mobile device, | (situation) |
| I want to | be able to contribute with one hand on a smaller device, | (motivation) |
| so that | I can contribute whilst doing other things on the go (riding public transport, listening to music, etc). | (expected outcome) |
Initial designs
Areas of exploration
- Discovery - how do we want users to come across the structured add links task?
- Option A. Incorporate as a new task type in the existing newcomer tasks module
- Option B. Add directly to the homepage as a new and different structured tasks module that newcomers can interact with directly from the module.
- Editing better in context or focus on task - how much should the task expose users to learn more about editing vs providing a focused way to do the specific add link task quickly?
- New or Old editing flow – should the structured add links task be part of the existing editor (eg. a new editing card in VE that appears when the add links task is selected?) or should it be a completely new standalone editing UI?
- Teaching relevant concepts - to what extent do we want to teach users about relevant Wikipedia editing concepts or norms when they do the task? Do we want it to be included before, during, or after they've completed adding a link?
- AI usage - since we are using an algorithm to provide recommended links, we should ensure the following:
- Transparency – users should be made aware that suggestions are not from humans
- Account for potential machine bias and errors – users should be able to easily reject suggestions when they are problematic, either implicitly via "skip" and/or explicitly by saying "No" to suggestions.
- Feedback mechanism for improvements - ideally enable users to provide feedback that may be used to improve the algorithm for the particular audience
- Quality structured task edits - how can constructive contributions be encouraged?
- i. Include guardrails - warn users when they have X reverts and provide education to improve their work
- ii. Encourage quality - show users a Quality rating (based on number of reverts, so for example 0 reverts = "Excellent")
- iii. Provide clear ways to disagree with machine recommended links - this helps users to understand their role as assessors of quality in this process.
First concept wireframes
Concept A: Teaching-centred structure
- Uses existing Newcomer homepage & tasks module structure
- Replaces template “Add links” task with a structured version
- First-time use enables users to be guided through task
- Recommendation is offered as ‘supplement’ guidance tool in subsequent uses
- Options to learn more about Wikipedia editing introduced at the start of the flow, and within guidance
- Encourages users to do other types of non-structured tasks once they have progressed X times
Concept B: Volume-centred structure
- A structured task module is shown on the homepage
- Users can initiate the edit directly from a preview on the module
- Onboarding is a single screen overview of the task
- Links to learn more about Wikipedia editing is only shown after X edits as an optional learning opportunity
- Encourages users to try a non-structured version of Add links after user completes X edits as an optional learning opportunity
More info and images at https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Growth/Personalized_first_day/Structured_tasks#Design
Next steps
Create refined V1 designs of the Add a link workflow (see T259822)