Impact of the citizen science project COLLECT on ocean literacy and well-being within a north/west African and south-east Asian context

Abstract

Plastic pollution is both a societal and environmental problem and citizen science has shown to be a useful tool to engage both the public and professionals in addressing it. However, knowledge on the educational and behavioral impacts of citizen science projects focusing on marine litter remains limited. Our preregistered study investigates the impact of the citizen science project Citizen Observation of Local Litter in coastal ECosysTems (COLLECT) on the participants’ ocean literacy, pro-environmental intentions and attitudes, well-being, and nature connectedness, using a pretest-posttest design. A total of 410 secondary school students from seven countries, in Africa (Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria) and Asia (Malaysia) were trained to sample plastics on sandy beaches and to analyze their collection in the classroom. Non-parametric statistical tests (n = 239 matched participants) demonstrate that the COLLECT project positively impacted ocean literacy (i.e., awareness and knowledge of marine litter, self-reported litter-reducing behaviors, attitudes towards beach litter removal). The COLLECT project also led to higher pro-environmental behavioral intentions for students in Benin and Ghana (implying a positive spillover effect) and higher well-being and nature connectedness for students in Benin. Results are interpreted in consideration of a high baseline in awareness and attitudes towards marine litter, a low internal consistency of pro-environmental attitudes, the cultural context of the participating countries, and the unique settings of the project’s implementation. Our study highlights the benefits and challenges of understanding how citizen science impacts the perceptions and behaviors towards marine litter in youth from the respective regions.

Citizen Science and Urban Home Gardeners’ Attitudes Toward Gardening

“…Most program participants were somewhat or very experienced gardeners (72%). Like other studies seeking to assess the behavioral impacts of participating in citizen science, our study also had the issue of program participants having high levels of knowledge and positive attitudes toward the activity when they joined the program (Chase and Levine 2018; Severin et al 2023). The majority (84%) of the study population had a college degree, and just less than half had a graduate or professional degree (43%).…”

“…Some research has focused on whether participation in citizen science increases scientific knowledge or scientific literacy (Bonney et al 2009(Bonney et al , 2016Brossard et al 2005;Shirk et al 2012). Other research has sought to understand whether citizen science programs change participants' attitudes and behaviors (Hajibayova et al 2021;Price and Lee 2013;Severin et al 2023). Most research of the impacts of participating in citizen science has focused on whether participation in environmental and natural resource citizen science programs affects participants' attitudes and behavior related to conservation (Severin et al 2023;Wiggins and Crowston 2011).…”

“…Other research has sought to understand whether citizen science programs change participants' attitudes and behaviors (Hajibayova et al 2021;Price and Lee 2013;Severin et al 2023). Most research of the impacts of participating in citizen science has focused on whether participation in environmental and natural resource citizen science programs affects participants' attitudes and behavior related to conservation (Severin et al 2023;Wiggins and Crowston 2011). To a lesser extent, research of the impacts of participating in citizen science has focused on what have been called "personal outcomes," which include topics such as whether citizen science contributes to development of new skills, improved mental health, connection to nature, or a sense of community (Peter et al 2019;Shirk et al 2012).…”

“…Participation in citizen science improves attitudes of participants, including attitudes about science (Berndt and Nitz 2023;Price and Lee 2013), the environment (Chase and Levine 2018), and proenvironmental behaviors (Severin et al 2023). Citizen science also increases scientific knowledge (Ballard and Belsky 2010), scientific thinking (Trumbull et al 2000), and knowledge related to the topic of citizen scientists' data collection (Jordan et al 2015;Peter et al 2019;Price and Lee 2013;Severin et al 2023). Citizen science programs related to conservation and environmental monitoring increase intentions to engage in conservation behaviors (Severin et al 2023;Toomey and Domroese 2013).…”

“…Citizen science also increases scientific knowledge (Ballard and Belsky 2010), scientific thinking (Trumbull et al 2000), and knowledge related to the topic of citizen scientists' data collection (Jordan et al 2015;Peter et al 2019;Price and Lee 2013;Severin et al 2023). Citizen science programs related to conservation and environmental monitoring increase intentions to engage in conservation behaviors (Severin et al 2023;Toomey and Domroese 2013). In addition to science or research related topics, citizen science can have positive impacts on health, well-being, satisfaction, and the feeling of connection to other people and to nature (Peter et al 2021).…”