Science as a Commons: Improving the Governance of Knowledge Through Citizen Science

Pelacho, Maite; Rodríguez, Hannot; Broncano, Fernando; Kubus, Renata; García, Francisco Sanz; Gavete, Beatriz; Lafuente, Antonio

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-58278-4_4

Cited by 27 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 27 publications

(22 reference statements)

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“…Although there is a link between deeper, more frequent participation in CS at the top end of the escalator and science awareness, participants could still act more as (frequent) spectators rather than actively increasing their science awareness and knowledge. This is borne out by [6], who comments that many hours of volunteering may be spent to support the vast diversity of CS and crowdsourced projects where citizens contribute by mass observations, while they are not necessarily deeply involved epistemically. CS can help deepen the meanings, possibilities, and implications of cooperation, particularly in science [6].…”

Section: Discussion: the Need For Deep Citizen Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is borne out by [6], who comments that many hours of volunteering may be spent to support the vast diversity of CS and crowdsourced projects where citizens contribute by mass observations, while they are not necessarily deeply involved epistemically. CS can help deepen the meanings, possibilities, and implications of cooperation, particularly in science [6]. Further, openness in science will lead us to deepen the approach of the commons leading to a knowledge commons where knowledge is considered to be a complex ecosystem that operates as a common, shared resource that is digitally represented and can be openly accessed [6].…”

Section: Discussion: the Need For Deep Citizen Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The lack of scientists and specialised resources to monitor the physical and natural world, especially in developing countries [6];…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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How IoT-Driven Citizen Science Coupled with Data Satisficing Can Promote Deep Citizen Science

Poslad

Irum

Charlton

et al. 2022

Sensors

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To study and understand the importance of Internet of Things-driven citizen science (IoT-CS) combined with data satisficing, we set up and undertook a citizen science experiment for air quality (AQ) in four Pakistan cities using twenty-one volunteers. We used quantitative methods to analyse the AQ data. Three research questions (RQ) were posed as follows: Which factors affect CS IoT-CS AQ data quality (RQ1)? How can we make science more inclusive by dealing with the lack of scientists, training and high-quality equipment (RQ2)? Can a lack of calibrated data readings be overcome to yield otherwise useful results for IoT-CS AQ data analysis (RQ3)? To address RQ1, an analysis of related work revealed that multiple causal factors exist. Good practice guidelines were adopted to promote higher data quality in CS studies. Additionally, we also proposed a classification of CS instruments to help better understand the data quality challenges. To answer RQ2, user engagement workshops were undertaken as an effective method to make CS more inclusive and also to train users to operate IoT-CS AQ devices more understandably. To address RQ3, it was proposed that a more feasible objective is that citizens leverage data satisficing such that AQ measurements can detect relevant local variations. Additionally, we proposed several recommendations. Our top recommendations are that: a deep (citizen) science approach should be fostered to support a more inclusive, knowledgeable application of science en masse for the greater good; It may not be useful or feasible to cross-check measurements from cheaper versus more expensive calibrated instrument sensors in situ. Hence, data satisficing may be more feasible; additional cross-checks that go beyond checking if co-located low-cost and calibrated AQ measurements correlate under equivalent conditions should be leveraged.

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Section: Discussion: the Need For Deep Citizen Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussion: the Need For Deep Citizen Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

How IoT-Driven Citizen Science Coupled with Data Satisficing Can Promote Deep Citizen Science

Poslad

Irum

Charlton

et al. 2022

Sensors

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“…In this context, openness as opposed to enclosure or exclusion mechanisms, could be key for the coherent sustainability, accessibility and quality of scientific knowledge produced through citizens participation. CS can play, in this sense, an important role for the understanding of science as a commons, because (1) it can facilitate the integrated development of a multitude of projects with a great variety of scopes and participatory formats, (2) it can favour the constitution of self-regulated and polycentric governance and communication systems, while (3) it can also support conditions of distributed impact at the local level (Pelacho et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The lack of a careful account of the different connotations behind openness and participation that characterize CS practices might undermine the 'science democratization' promise that CS puts forward (Strasser et al, 2018), eventually creating disappointment or conflict among both participants and scientists who join CS projects (Riesch and Potter, 2014). For this, an alternative holistic approach to highlight and address some of the tensions that CS is currently facing, which may undermine its governance, quality and sustainability as a promising research practice, can be studied in connection with the commons paradigm (Kloppenborg et al, 2021;Pelacho et al, 2021;Weber et al, 2019;Madison, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A framework for assessing the commons qualities of citizen science: comparative analysis of five digital platforms

Morell¹,

Cigarini²,

Hidalgo³

2021

Preprint

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Citizen Science (CS) has greatly expanded as a collaborative model of knowledge co-production, often outside traditional scientific institutions. However, CS potential to enable new forms of collective governance of scientific research remains largely unexplored. At least, two confronting standpoints dominate the debate around CS: from mere crowdsourcing perspectives supported by debates over cost-effectiveness of massive data collection, to more participatory views, which understand CS as a means to democratize science and challenge current academic structures. Although most accounts of CS focus on crowdsourcing participatory formats, the discussion around CS governance mechanisms that go beyond crowdsourcing models is unfolding. Understanding CS as contributing to constitute science as a commons requires specific conditions that must be met, as well as continuous reflection and discussion. This study provides a framework for exploring the commons-like formations that characterize CS approaches, as already applied in the study of commons based peer production (CBPP). This framework of commons’ qualities considers openness at the governance level, open knowledge at technological and data levels, and social responsibility and impact of CS projects. The framework was tested and informed empirically with the analysis of 5 digital mapping CS projects, to provide points of comparison and illustration. Data was gathered through web collection, based on a netnographic method. The results show that, overall, the dimensions considered prove useful to shed light on the commons-like formations that characterize CS. They further point to the interplay of several institutional, legal, and practical dimensions in constructing and governing openness in citizen science. The preliminary adaptation of the framework is intended to place in an analytical context the debate around CS potential to enable new forms of science governance of knowledge co-production.

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A citizen science approach to develop a digital intervention to reduce HIV stigma and promote HIV self‐testing among adolescents and young adults: a mixed methods analysis from Kazakhstan

Davis,

Rosenthal,

Tucker

et al. 2024

J Int AIDS Soc.

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IntroductionKazakhstan has one of the fastest‐growing HIV epidemics in the world, with increasing rates among adolescents and young adults (AYA). Innovative strategies are needed to increase HIV testing uptake and decrease HIV stigma among AYA. Citizen science, defined as the active engagement of the general public in scientific research tasks, promotes and facilitates community engagement throughout the research process. This citizen science study used crowdsourcing to engage AYA in Kazakhstan to develop a digital intervention to reduce HIV stigma and promote HIV self‐testing. Our objectives in this paper are to describe the approach used, its feasibility and acceptability, and AYA motivations for and lessons learned collaborating on the study.MethodsFrom October 2021 to July 2022, in collaboration with a Community Collaborative Research Board and a Youth Advisory Board, we developed an open call requesting multimedia submissions to reduce HIV testing stigma. Eligible submissions were separated by age group (13−19 or 20−29 years) and judged by a panel composed of AYA (n = 23), healthcare professionals (n = 12), and representatives from the local government and non‐governmental organizations (n = 17). Each entry was reviewed by at least four judges and ranked on a 5‐point scale. The top 20 open call contestants were asked to submit self‐recordings sharing their motivation for and experience participating in the contest and lessons learned. Descriptive statistics were calculated for quantitative data. Qualitative data were coded using open coding.ResultsWe received 96 submissions from 77 youth across Kazakhstan. Roughly, three‐quarters (n = 75/96) of entries met judging eligibility criteria. Of the eligible entries, over half (n = 39/75) scored 3.5 or higher on a 5‐point scale (70.0%). The most frequent types of entries were video (n = 36/96, 37.5%), image (n = 28/96, 29.2%) and text (n = 24/96, 25.0%). AYA's primary motivations for collaborating on the study included a desire to improve society and help youth. The main challenges included creating content to address complex information using simple language, finding reliable information online and technological limitations.ConclusionsCrowdsourcing was feasible and highly acceptable among AYA in Kazakhstan. Citizen science approaches hold great promise for addressing the increasingly complex health and social challenges facing communities today.

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Science as a Commons: Improving the Governance of Knowledge Through Citizen Science

Cited by 27 publications

References 27 publications

How IoT-Driven Citizen Science Coupled with Data Satisficing Can Promote Deep Citizen Science

How IoT-Driven Citizen Science Coupled with Data Satisficing Can Promote Deep Citizen Science

A framework for assessing the commons qualities of citizen science: comparative analysis of five digital platforms

A citizen science approach to develop a digital intervention to reduce HIV stigma and promote HIV self‐testing among adolescents and young adults: a mixed methods analysis from Kazakhstan

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