Task instructions for Workers
The following items are recommended sections of instructions for crowd-sourcing tasks:
- Title—a clear and publicly accessible title to easily identify a task. For details, read the Title, instructions, and FAQs article.
- Overview—a brief explanation of the task objective, often in the following format: "Given ___, provide ___".
- Background—provide a context or background as required for a task. It should not necessarily be a separate section. The best option is to format it as extra paragraphs between the Overview and the Steps section.
- Steps—clear step-by-step instructions for Workers to follow.
- Data Definitions—a table listing a label, its definition, and an example of each data element the Worker is to provide (useful for complex tasks).
- Guidance—explanations of the steps where you provide more details or insights as required to complete a task. You can also call it Useful Tips or merge with Common Mistakes for the Dos and Don'ts section.
- Common Mistakes—explanations of the things you DO NOT want in a Task. In this case, you can also use Dos and Don'ts.
- Exceptions—items that go against the rest of the logic, potentially just part of a previous section.
- Examples—specific examples of correct responses.
- FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)—clear explanations of specific questions and examples in iterations of a task.
- References—supplemental information to help complete the Task or provide more context. You can also call it Links.
Not all tasks require all sections. However, the essential minimum for a Worker includes the following sections: Title, Overview, and Steps.