citizen science infographic

Citizen

Science

Motivation

Uses

Improvements at a specific (local) issue

Intellectual challenge

Being a part of something bigger

Contributing to science research

Helping a cause

Participation Spectrum

Collecting

Observation

Sorting

Transcription

Analysis

Gaming

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Sharing skillsand knowledge

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Preservation through participation

Activism

Increased datacollection

Mass Data

Viewing the subject from different perspectives

Collaboration

Bringing science knowlege to the public

Outreach

-when the scientific method meets the interested public

Sources

Participation via data collection - Considered "crowd-sourcing" - Individuals make observations of the real world, from a recording or from a computer simulation. - The observations are collected in a database that is accessible to a interested researchers. - Participants have provided information on animals, plants, insects, weather patterns, sounds, traffic, air quality, and even their own lifestyle habits.

Transcription of data - Participants are trained to sort a vast collection of data into pre-determined categories. - Training familiarizes participants with the data and the analysis tools. - Participants have analysed video samples of microscopic particles for stardust, transcribed historical ship logs, categorized baby sounds, and even classified architectural photographs.

Gamification of research - Adding game elements to citizen science motivates participants - Common elements include score comparisons, leaderboards, work-a-thons, swag, and a storyline - Gaming as the means for data collection is also used in citizen science - Paticipants aim to complete a challenge, and their activity is monitored as the data - Citizen science games include folding proteins, play brain puzzle challenges, searching for microbes, save a lake, and signalling stroke symptoms.

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Sources

Time Intense

Design

Balance

Bias

Demotivation

Misinterpretation

Classroom Success

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More Data

O

W

S

Engaged Public

Mobile

Knowledge

Involved Public

Global

SWOT Analysis

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Must Have

Nice to Have

Helps to Have

Background on the study

Information

Proper taskprotocols

Instruction

Access to the data and analyses

Results

Library of project resources

Video

Occasions to collaborate

Events

Curriculum-aligned activities

Lesson Plans

Exntended family participation

Apps

Objects for motivation

Rewards

Occasions forQ&A

Experts

Science Explanation Introduce the research background.

Explain how to participate.

Explanations in video format.

Game elements during science participation.

App for Android and iOS systems.

Access to the data and to the results.

Strength in data: - Collecting a higher volume - Greater geographic coverage - Extending the field season - Increasing the frequency of collections

Strength in public participation: - Spark an interest in science - Develop skills in scientific method - Embracing non-academic expertise - Boost positive science attitudes - Promote science in society

Strength through mobile devices: - Improved ease of use - Open access to science participation - Standardized data collection - Realtime data collection - Asynchronous participation - Facilitates participant connections

Opportunities in Outreach: - Changing behaviours - Learning through play - Availability of lesson plans - Understanding the scientific method - Bridging gaps between academia and the public

Opportuniites in communities: - Develop a sense of ownership - Local advocacy for issues - Globally-connected movements - Inclusive policy-making requests - Empowering communities with results - Mentoring new scientists

Opportunities on a global scale: - Exploring real data - Collaborating with peers across nations - Sharing solutions to evolve research - Multiplying research study locations

Weakness in time and effort: - Intense pre-study methodology review - Develop training as part of methods - Determine collection logistics - Requires participant support contact - Requires longer collection period - Requires quality control stage - Extended analysis period

Weakness in design: - Unfocused participant task objectives - Poor incorporation of collected data into the existing sytem - Inadequate training due to restrictive research timelines - Peer researchers dispute use of public as participants - Lack of experience with training non-scientists - Rotation of new researchers fail to maintain the inital study's goals

Weakness in finding balance: - Funding for developing the research or for the tools to facilitate citizen science - Keeping a level of individual privacy or collecting extraneous data for patterns - Accepting high volume low-quality data or culling for low volume high-quality data - Balancing researcher time and effort in data research or in training participants

Threats due to public bias: - Potential socioeconomic skew - Language barriers (lack of translations) - Higher participation in trending issues - Seasonal (recreational) participation - Attaining game rewards outweighs the desire to advance science research

Threats in demotivation: - Participants feel undervalued - Researchers fail to communicate the results of the data collection - Difficult user experience navigation - Task assigned are repetitive and "boring"

Threats in analysis: - Open access to data leads to inaccurate conclusions - Oversimplified explanations derails the science in the research - False information spread on the internet

Projects well-versed in citizen science techniques, or well-funded for outreach tend to offer substantial educational resources. Community science partnerships may provide opportunities for students to work directly with the research scientists. The educator's choice for their classroom's participation depends on the time and effort required, the quality and accessibility of materials and tools accompanying the project, as well as the overall interest in the subject.

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Articles

Project Catalogues

Projects

Sources

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RESTART

Participation and Co-creation in Citizen Science

Participation via data collection - Considered "crowd-sourcing" - Individuals make observations of the real world, from a recording or from a computer simulation. - The observations are collected in a database that is accessible to a interested researchers. - Participants have provided information on animals, plants, insects, weather patterns, sounds, traffic, air quality, and even their own lifestyle habits.

Transcription of data - Participants are trained to sort a vast collection of data into pre-determined categories. - Training familiarizes participants with the data and the analysis tools. - Participants have analysed video samples of microscopic particles for stardust, transcribed historical ship logs, categorized baby sounds, and even classified architectural photographs.

Gamification of research - Adding game elements to citizen science motivates participants - Common elements include score comparisons, leaderboards, work-a-thons, swag, and a storyline - Gaming as the means for data collection is also used in citizen science - Paticipants aim to complete a challenge, and their activity is monitored as the data - Citizen science games include folding proteins, play brain puzzle challenges, searching for microbes, save a lake, and signalling stroke symptoms.