Citizen Science 2.0: Data Management Principles to Harness the Power of the Crowd

Abstract

Abstract. Citizen science refers to voluntary participation by the general public in scientific endeavors. Although citizen science has a long tradition, the rise of online communities and user-generated web content has the potential to greatly expand its scope and contributions. Citizens spread across a large area will collect more information than an individual researcher can. Because citizen scientists tend to make observations about areas they know well, data are likely to be very detailed. Although the potential for engaging citizen scientists is extensive, there are challenges as well. In this paper we consider one such challenge -creating an environment in which non-experts in a scientific domain can provide appropriate and accurate data regarding their observations. We describe the problem in the context of a research project that includes the development of a website to collect citizen-generated data on the distribution of plants and animals in a geographic region. We propose an approach that can improve the quantity and quality of data collected in such projects by organizing data using instance-based data structures. Potential implications of this approach are discussed and plans for future research to validate the design are described.

Capturing quality

“…Therefore, guidelines for data management plans, policies, and practices for these projects have only recently begun emerging [31,13]. Persistent challenges in storing project data and metadata include suboptimal ICT for smaller projects [30].…”

Data management aspects of public engagement with biodiversity documentation

“…in a particular place and time; this data has many applications: evolutionary research questions, ecological management issues (climate change, invasive species), epidemiology or natural disaster management (Soberón & Peterson, 2004;Lukyanenko, Parsons & Wiersma, 2011).…”

“…Verification by professional experts is contrary to the spirit of citizen science, according to Lukyanenko, Parsons & Wiersma (2011).…”

“…Attribute-based data collection Lukyanenko, Parsons & Wiersma (2011) propose that volunteers should not provide a direct classification of the taxa observed, but describe them. This method purports to be more open to non-experts as well as less prone to classification errors.…”

Data management aspects of public engagement with biodiversity documentation

“…Primary biodiversity data records the presence or absence of a certain taxon (of plant or animal etc.) in a particular place and time; this data has many applications: evolutionary research questions, ecological management issues (climate change, invasive species), epidemiology or natural disaster management (Soberón & Peterson, 2004;Lukyanenko, Parsons & Wiersma, 2011).…”