A Comparison of Augmented Reality and Browser Versions of a Citizen Science Game

Abstract

Science is increasingly being achieved through citizen science (CitSci) - research conducted in part by non-professional scientists. In order to increase recruitment and retention, CitSci is sometimes gamified. Yet, research suggests that being a game does not alone make CitSci more enticing; rather, retention is dependent on the player's experience. One recent trend in gaming is Augmented Reality (AR), as demonstrated by games like Pokémon Go. In this work, we examine the potential benefits of applying AR to CitSci gaming. We conducted a user study where we invited participants to play two citizen science adaptations (browser and AR) of the traditional game of Memory. We identified four major themes through thematic analysis. We conclude that AR is a leisurely toy: while the browser interface is better suited to rapid, accessible, productive play, AR is better suited to reflective, one-time, unstructured experiences. Our findings reveal potential towards future work on exploring AR in contexts such as museums and classrooms.