I’m fine with collecting data

Engagement profiles differ depending on scientific activities in an online community of a citizen science project

authored by: Till Bruckermann, Hannah Greving, Milena Stillfried, Anke Schumann, Miriam Brandt, Ute Harms
Abstract: Digital technologies facilitate collaboration between citizens and scientists in citizen science (CS) projects. Besides the facilitation of data transmission and access, digital technologies promote novel formats for education in CS by including citizens in the process of collecting, analyzing, and discussing data. It is usually assumed that citizens profit more from CS the more they participate in the different steps of the scientific process. However, it has so far not been analyzed whether citizens actually engage in these steps. Therefore, we investigated citizens' actual engagement in different scientific steps online (i.e., data collection and data analysis) in two field studies of a CS project. We then compared them with other CS projects. We analyzed behavioral engagement patterns of N = 273 participants with activity logs and cluster analyses. Opportunities to engage in different steps of the scientific process increased participants' overall commitment compared to contributory CS projects. Yet, despite their increased commitment, participants' engagement was only more active for data collection but not for data analysis. We discuss how participants' perceived role as data collectors influenced their actual engagement in the scientific steps. To conclude, citizens may need support to change their role from data collectors to data inquirers.
Organisation(s): Institute of Education
External Organisation(s): IPN - Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education at Kiel University
Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)
Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien (IWM)
Type: Article
Journal: PLoS ONE
Volume: 17
ISSN: 1932-6203
Publication date: 10.10.2022
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: General
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 15 - Life on Land
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275785 (Access: Open)