Do monetary incentives encourage local communities to collect and upload mosquito sound data using smartphones? A case study in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kieran E Storer ¹, Jane P Messina ², Eva Herreros-Moya ¹

⁰Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Plos One +

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August 7, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Monetary incentives for citizen scientists in malaria monitoring showed mixed results, with initial participation boosts but no long-term effect. Community interest and intrinsic motivation were more influential than financial rewards for data collection.

Area Of Science

Public Health
Vector-Borne Diseases
Citizen Science

Background

Malaria remains a significant vector-borne disease in sub-Saharan Africa, necessitating robust monitoring systems.
Technological interventions enabling citizen scientists to collect and upload data are increasingly utilized for malaria risk management.
Standardization and consistency of citizen-collected data are crucial for scientific analysis and effective disease control.

Purpose Of The Study

To evaluate the impact of monetary incentives on citizen scientist participation and data collection quality in a malaria monitoring study.
To understand community responses and motivations influencing engagement in citizen science initiatives for disease surveillance.

Main Methods

A field study was conducted in two health areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo, trialling an acoustic mosquito sensor.
Data collection participation, completeness, and community responses were measured.
Monetary incentives were offered to citizen scientists to assess their effect on engagement and data quality.

Main Results

Monetary incentives yielded mixed responses; participants showed greater interest in the technology's social status and monetary value than the incentive itself.
Incentives initially increased participation but had no significant effect in the latter half of the trial, indicating diminishing returns.
Community feedback revealed varied opinions on technology, research objectives, and incentives, correlating with differences in data quantity and quality.

Conclusions

Extrinsic motivations like monetary incentives provide initial benefits but do not consistently override intrinsic motivations over time.
Community-specific interests and intrinsic motivations play a more critical role in citizen science participation than incentive value alone.
Enhanced communication and dialogue with citizen scientists are vital for improving participation, attitudes, and the overall success of public health initiatives.