Australian Museum Study Shows Gamified Maps Improve Citizen Science Data Collection

Researchers from the Australian Museum and University of New South Wales conducted an experiment to improve data collection for the FrogID citizen science project. From Spring 2020 to 2021, they tested interactive priority maps in four New South Wales Local Government Areas, showing participants where frog recordings were most needed. The study found participants significantly increased submissions from high-priority locations, especially when leaderboards were added. This represents the first successful test of map-based guidance in citizen science, demonstrating how communication and gamification can enhance biodiversity data quality for conservation efforts.