1. Motivation in Translation
Crowdsourcing;
A study of Volunteer Polish Facebook User-Translators.
Magdalena Dombek
Centre for Translation and Textual Studies
Dublin City University

2. Overview
 Research background
 Research question
 Facebook and translation crowdsourcing
 Theoretical framework
 Methodology
 Findings so far
 Conclusions
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3. Research background
collaborative new forms of
translation tools translation practice
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4. Research question
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5. Translation process on Facebook
 Translation System
 Collaborative translation platform
 Glossary
 Voting system
 ‘Inline’ mode
 Social Networking Features
 Community group page
 Post a message
 Ask a question
 Upload video/ photo/ document
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6. Theoretical Framework
Self-Determination Theory Activity Theory
•Intrinsic Motivation (IM): •Information technologies in the
•Autonomy context of human practice:
•Competence •HCI: social, organizational and
•Relatedness cultural context of computer
•Cognitive Evaluation Theory: usage
•Social and environmental factors •Mediation: tools shape human
strengthen vs. undermine IM experiences
Facebook translation crowdsourcing:
Translation as an activity which correlates with the needs of autonomy,
competence and relatedness
Translation as an activity mediated by tools
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7. Methodology
 Mixed methods approach:
 Netnography:
 ethnographic research online
 study of a community in the online environment
(observation, interaction, archival data analysis)
 Online survey:
 source of quantitative data (demographics, use of
Facebook, Translations application, collaborative
translation platform and motivation)
 study with 20 Polish Facebook user-translators
 Further experiment:
 observatory study of the usage of Facebook’s
collaborative translation platform
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8. Findings:
Intrinsic Motivation, Competence
Scale:
0 = I completely disagree
4 = I completely agree
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9. Findings:
Competence
Scale:
0 = I completely disagree
4 = I completely agree
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10. Findings:
Competence
[median = 3] [median = 3]
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11. Findings:
Autonomy
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12. Findings:
Competence and Relatedness
Scale:
0 = I completely unimportant
4 = I extremely important
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13. Findings:
Relatedness
Scale:
0 = I completely disagree
4 = I completely agree
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14. Conclusions
 Intrinsic motivation to contribute further
strengthened (as postulated in SDT):
 Activity of Facebook translation conducive to the
translators’ increased perceptions of autonomy,
competence and relatedness
 Persisting high levels of self-confidence, belief in one’s
skills, task aptitude
 Strong perception of community spirit
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15. Thank You!
Email: magdalena.dombek2@mail.dcu.ie
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