Framework Conceptual Model D1.1

Why citizen science cannot answer the question of the democratisation of science

“…Later, the conceptualisation of the term is further broadened by different players, it is extended to school projects, public participation in science policy-making, DIY activities aiming at innovation or development, action research, Science Shop activities and a wide range of science communication ( [7]). In their previous work the authors have come to the conclusion that a categorisation or typology would not allow to comprehensibly evaluate the benefits and caveats of CS, because the use of the term has become too broad ( [11]). So they developed the Activities Dimension Grid of Citizen Science ( [11], [12]) which roughly distinguishes between four areas, which are (1) CS activities aiming at contributions to research policy making, (2) participating in research projects, (3) participating in activities on innovation and development and (4) CS carried out in the context of school education.…”

“…In their previous work the authors have come to the conclusion that a categorisation or typology would not allow to comprehensibly evaluate the benefits and caveats of CS, because the use of the term has become too broad ( [11]). So they developed the Activities Dimension Grid of Citizen Science ( [11], [12]) which roughly distinguishes between four areas, which are (1) CS activities aiming at contributions to research policy making, (2) participating in research projects, (3) participating in activities on innovation and development and (4) CS carried out in the context of school education. It makes no sense to ask if CS per se democratises science; but one can ask if certain CS activities could have this claimed potential and which characteristics would be necessary.…”

“…It is well recognized in the CS community that volunteers are probably mostly members of the upper or upper middle class (e.g., [8]), nevertheless seemingly this does not shake the conviction of many that CS democratises science. Last but not least, for many CS activities we do not know who actually participates ( [11]). This makes it difficult to assess how democratic they are.…”

The Activities & Dimensions Grid of Citizen Science

“…In view of the broad application of the term, researchers have developed various categorisations and typologies of citizen science activities to provide an overview of the various forms citizen science can take [2], [3], [5], [8], [10], [11], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [20], [21], [22]. (For an analysis of some of these categorisations and typologies, see Strähle and Urban [19], chapter 6.) Generally, definitions, categorisations and typologies are made for a specific purpose.…”

“…Among other things, CS Track investigates the benefits of citizen science, the incentives, disincentives and enablers for citizen science, and the barriers to citizen science. The authors developed the Activities & Dimensions Grid (see Strähle and Urban [19], p. 100-105) to provide, on the one hand, an overview of potential citizen science activities and their dimensions tailored to CS Track and, on the other, a conceptual framework for research activities in the CS Track project dependent on them. The Grid can be operationalized in the ideal event that all information about the dimensions of a specific citizen science activity is available.…”