Task recommendations for Wikipedia Editors

This document describes ways we can automatically suggest tasks to Wikipedia editors.

The problem
In accordance with our 2014-15 goals, we want to increase the activation rate of new editors on Wikipedia. Currently, only 15-16% of newly-registered users who make an edit to Wikipedia content go on to reach active editor status in their first 24 hours. This conversion rate is quite low, especially considering that users have already made it past the difficult task of completing their first edit.

We think that a large part of this is because:
 * 1) There is no clear path forward for the user after their first edit, even if they complete onboarding. If they are successful, they have to seek out additional tasks on their own.
 * 2) Users are not provided much positive reinforcement for their first edits.

Proposed solution
We think that active recommendations that are personalized to the user's topical interests will dramatically increase engagement among new editors. Additionally, personalized recommendations may be a tool for continuing engagement.

There are basically no active task recommendations made to new editors on Wikipedia. The most helpful form of recommendations comes from more passive or opt-in methods, such as Community Portals, categories, and maintenance templates embedded in articles. Only one (SuggestBot) is really personalized to the user.

Hypotheses and research questions
Our full research documentation can be viewed at Research:Task recommendations.

User experience
There are three situations in which we may provide a suggestion of what to edit:


 * 1) In-workflow: providing suggestions immediately to users as they are in the midst of an editing/reading session. The advantage of this approach is that they are immediately accessible to the user wherever they may be on the wiki.
 * 2) Landing page: sending or directing the user to a full landing page, including a variety of suggestions to choose from. This may involve augmenting an existing page (like user contributions or watchlist), or building an entirely new home page for editing suggestions.
 * 3) Notifications: via email and web. Interesting notifications should be a tool to encourage editors to return regularly.

We will start by providing task suggestions to the user immediately during their first edit session. Later, if these suggestions prove to improve editor engagement and productivity, we will expand to notifications and potentially a full landing page for recommendations. Recommendations will first be targeted at first-time editors, but eventually may be delivered to anonymous editors and more experienced registered editors.