Citizen Science Research Design and Methods

Introduction to CS

Explaining how we are going to cover the topic of citizen science research methodologies through examples of different types of citizen science projects

Explaining to the learner why it is worth following the course

Example one - eBird (data collection)

The story of eBird and how it became the world’s largest biodiversity-related science projects, with more than 100 million bird sightings contributed annually by eBirders around the world and an average participation growth rate of approximately 20% year on year

Demonstration of what can be achieved with crowdsourcing of data collection

Example two – Galaxy Zoo and Zooniverse (data processing)

The story of Galaxy Zoo and how it has mobilised volunteers to perform millions of classifications of galaxies and resulted in over 450 publications

Demonstration of what can be achieved with crowdsourcing of data processing

Example three - FoldIt (data processing through gamification)

The story of FoldIt and how players have contributed to advanced research on human health, cutting-edge bioengineering, and the inner workings of biology

Demonstration of what can be achieved with curriculum-based citizen science projects

Example four - the Give Youth a Voice project and the Mass Experiment in Denmark

The story of two projects in Denmark – one about mental health and young people and one about plastic pollution involving 57.000 school children

Demonstration of what can be achieved with citizen science projects that involve young people/school children

Overview of citizen science methodologies and what they accomplish: crowdsourcing (data collection and/or data processing), curriculum-based projects, and community science

Bringing the stories together and elaborating on key terms for citizen science methodology: crowdsourcing and volunteered thinking/computing (data collection and/or data processing), curriculum-based citizen science (formal and informal science education), and community science

Helping participants to organise information about individual examples and enabling them to use relevant terminology

Reasons for choosing CS as research methodology

Going over reasons for choosing (and not choosing) CS as a research methodology

Demonstrating that there are many reasons for choosing CS

Defining the aim of the project

The need for well-defined aim, incl. questions to assist participants in defining their project’s aim

Assisting participants in defining project aims

Stakeholder analysis

The motivation for doing a stakeholder analysis

Enabling participants to perform a stakeholder analysis taking into account the timing of the project

Ladder of participation

Defining the ladder of participation for both volunteers and researchers

Encouraging participants to think about different level of participation and why it’s important for both volunteer and researchers

The examples of Asteroid Zoo and Supernova Hunters

What Supernova Hunters did to regularly enhance the number of classifications

Enabling participants to design project based on understanding of volunteers’ motivation

Volunteer motivations

Different types of motivation for different types of CS projects

Giving participants insight into project characteristics and the different kinds of motivation that drive volunteers

Choosing and using CS

Presenting a decision framework for determining whether CS is a suited methodology or not

Enabling participants to use the decision framework

Group discussion

Participants discuss the various aspects of their projects, such as the research question, target community, expected outcomes, and potential challenges. They are encouraged to share their project ideas or existing projects.

Engaging in group discussions allows participants to share diverse perspectives and ideas, enriching their understanding of the practical applications of citizen science.

Applying the framework

Each participant or group applies the decision framework to their project idea or existing project. This involves systematically evaluating their project against the criteria outlined in the framework.

Systematically applying the decision framework to specific projects helps participants critically analyze the suitability of citizen science for their research objectives.

Identifying opportunities and challenges

Participants identify the opportunities that CS could bring to their project, such as increased data collection, broader public engagement, and enhanced community relevance. They also discuss potential challenges, including managing volunteer contributions, ensuring data quality, and addressing ethical considerations.

This phase encourages participants to think creatively and realistically about the benefits and hurdles of incorporating citizen science, fostering a balanced perspective.

Presentation and feedback

Participants or groups present their assessments in a two-minute pitch, outlining whether CS is suitable for their project and why. Presentations are followed by a feedback session, where peers and/or facilitators provide constructive comments, alternative perspectives, and suggestions for improvement.

Presenting assessments and receiving feedback cultivates a collaborative learning environment and enhances participants’ ability to articulate and refine their project ideas.

Conclusion and reflection

The session concludes with participants reflecting on their learning experience. They consider how the decision framework has influenced their understanding of the applicability of CS to their research.

Reflecting on the session's activities solidifies learning and allows participants to internalize the decision-making process for future application in their research projects.