Abstract

This study explores how different types of motivation s shape user participation on a digital citizen science platform (faune -france), offering broader insights into engagement dynamics on digital platforms. Drawing on Self -Determination Theory (SDT), we distinguish between recreational motivations related to birdwatching , and platform -based motivations, such as desire for recognition, or valuing scientific contribution. Using interviews, survey data and ordinal logistic regression analysis, we examine how b oth the absolute and relative strength of these motivations influence patterns of active and passive participation . While recreational motivations such as engag ing in birdwatching and platform -based motivations to use citizen science platforms can each independently influence participation, individuals often experience multiple motivations simultaneously, with differing levels of intensity (Nov et al., 2014; Ryan & Deci, 2017; West & Pateman, 2016) . In the context of citizen science, participants may be simultaneously drawn to the experience of being in nature and to the affordances of the platform (e.g., contributing to science, accessing information etc.). However, when one of these motivations is significantly more salient than the other, it may lead to different forms of participation . We constructed relative motivation variables to capture which type of motivation dominates for a participant . The relative motivation variables compare recreationa l motivation related to birdwatching to different types of platform -based motivation (intrinsic, identified, and extrinsic). Our findings reveal that while intrinsic recreational motivation strongly predicts both active and passive participation , users with high recreational motivation but low platform -oriented motivation are less likely to contribute actively . This outcome is somewhat counterintuitive, given that recreational motivation in this context relates to birdwatching: birdwatchers using the platform are generally aware of the importance of sharing their observations, a message reinforced by the platform and its communit y. This highlights a potential friction between immersive nature experiences and the structured, interface -driven demand s of digital participation. For some users, the act of uploading data, navigating menus, or participating in gamified features may be perceived as distracting or misaligned with their field -based experience . As our interviews suggest, even experienced birdwatchers -including professional ornithologists-who recognize the value of data sharing, may choose not to participate actively , unless they also exhibit a strong orientation toward digital tools, scientific contribution, or recognition . Beyond the citizen science context, our results contribute to broader research on digital platform participation by emphasizing the importance of motivational alignment between users and what platform s offer

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