To support the goal of increasing constructive edits by new contributors, the Growth team is exploring a structured progression system designed to guide and motivate newcomers. Building on past work in Positive Reinforcement, this new feature will offer clear milestones, suggested next steps, and lightweight recognition to help newer editors stay engaged, build skills, and experience Wikipedia editing as more satisfying and rewarding.

https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Growth/Progression_System

Hypothesis:

Project-level Hypothesis
If newer editors (fewer than 100 edits) are offered a structured progression system with clear milestones, next steps, and lightweight forms of recognition, then they will be more likely to stay engaged and make constructive contributions — because clear guidance and a sense of progress can increase intrinsic motivation and create a more satisfying editing experience.

Q1 Hypothesis:
Improve Tone Suggested Edit (WE1.1.5) -
If we test a progression system via design prototypes with newcomers, then we can identify which types of milestones, guidance, and recognition are perceived as most motivating, and use these insights to finalize a design for future pilot wiki experimentation.

Related work:

• T395678: [Request] Informing the design of a progression system for new editors
• T398250: Understanding newcomer onboarding experiences - mentorship, relatedness, and competence

FAQ

Is this system only for newcomers?
While the initial scope is focused on supporting newcomers and improving constructive activation and newcomer retention, the long-term vision includes broader applicability. This may include progression pathways for more experienced contributors, in roles where more support is often needed.

What are the milestones within the progression system?
We aren't sure! That's part of what we will uncover in community discussions and user testing. Some initial ideas:

• Verify email / add email
• Welcome Survey (to help personalize onboarding)
• Complete a small edit (Suggested Edit?)
• Make a first unreverted edit
• Create a user page
• First sandbox edit
• Watch a Wiki Minute video read a key policy page
• Get assigned a mentor
• Make 10 article (mainspace) edits
• Complete a Wikipedia:Five Pillars quiz or NPOV training
• View 3 example small edits / diffs ("Show and tell")
• Make a first talk page edit
• Create a user page
• Join wiki event or WikiProject
• Reach user group milestones (autoconfirmed, extended confirmed, etc.)
• Qualify for Wikipedia Library access

Related Research & References

Here is some of the previous research that will guide our efforts (please add a comment to this task if there are other resources we should review).

• Positive Reinforcement Design Research & https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Growth/Positive_reinforcement
• New Readers Research: Wikimedia_Foundation_and_Reboot_New_Readers_Research
• Newcomer Experience Projects
• Why don’t young people want to edit Wikipedia?
• Wikipedia:Wikicredit & Research:WikiCredit
• T398250: Understanding newcomer onboarding experiences - mentorship, relatedness, and competence
• Steering User Behavior with Badges