Research Data Management Challenges in Citizen Science Projects and Recommendations for Library Support Services. A Scoping Review and Case Study

Hansen, Jitka Stilund; Gadegaard, Signe; Hansen, Karsten Kryger; Larsen, Asger Væring; Møller, Søren; Thomsen, Gertrud Stougård; Holmstrand, Katrine Flindt

doi:10.5334/dsj-2021-025

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 36 publications

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“…The CARE principles (collective benefit, authority to control, responsibility and ethics) for Indigenous data governance offer a framework for supporting Indigenous data goals that complements global efforts to advance open data 186 . Additionally, it is important to highlight that citizen science projects inherently involve diverse participants and should apply ethical publishing practices 181,187,188 . It is also good practice to involve participants when designing the data management plan, such as in deciding how attribution is given.…”

Section: Describing and Preservingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Citizen science in environmental and ecological sciences

Fraisl

Hager

Bedessem

et al. 2022

Nat Rev Methods Primers

220

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Citizen science, broadly defined as public participation in scientific research and knowledge production, is becoming an increasingly well developed and valued approach with global reach and used in a wide range of scientific domains [1][2][3] . Much of this growth is driven by the availability of information technology infrastructures such as mobile phones and low-cost sensors for gathering and reporting data, the internet for sharing data, and cloud storage for hosting and storing data 4,5 . Growing literacy levels and educational attainment in many parts of the world also make it possible for many more people to contribute to knowledge creation in a meaningful way 6,7 .Citizen science initiatives involve the public in the research process to generate genuine scientific outcomes [8][9][10][11] . These outcomes include discoveries, such as in astrophysics 12 and archaeology projects 13 ; new insights, such as in epidemiology 14 and socio-linguistics projects 15 ; evidence-based policymaking, such as in pollution-monitoring initiatives [16][17][18] ; interventions such as in public health research 19 ; and environmental governance, including in ecology and biodiversity monitoring initiatives [20][21][22] . Citizen science research can fill important data gaps across both time and space 23 , which might not otherwise be possible without the contribution of many participants, including people with local and lay knowledge 24,25 or Indigenous knowledge 26,27 .

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Section: Describing and Preservingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Citizen science in environmental and ecological sciences

Fraisl

Hager

Bedessem

et al. 2022

Nat Rev Methods Primers

220

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Citizen science’s transformative impact on science, citizen empowerment and socio-political processes

Gönner

Herrmann

Bruckermann

et al. 2023

Socio Ecol Pract Res

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Citizen science (CS) can foster transformative impact for science, citizen empowerment and socio-political processes. To unleash this impact, a clearer understanding of its current status and challenges for its development is needed. Using quantitative indicators developed in a collaborative stakeholder process, our study provides a comprehensive overview of the current status of CS in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Our online survey with 340 responses focused on CS impact through (1) scientific practices, (2) participant learning and empowerment, and (3) socio-political processes. With regard to scientific impact, we found that data quality control is an established component of CS practice, while publication of CS data and results has not yet been achieved by all project coordinators (55%). Key benefits for citizen scientists were the experience of collective impact (“making a difference together with others”) as well as gaining new knowledge. For the citizen scientists’ learning outcomes, different forms of social learning, such as systematic feedback or personal mentoring, were essential. While the majority of respondents attributed an important value to CS for decision-making, only few were confident that CS data were indeed utilized as evidence by decision-makers. Based on these results, we recommend (1) that project coordinators and researchers strengthen scientific impact by fostering data management and publications, (2) that project coordinators and citizen scientists enhance participant impact by promoting social learning opportunities and (3) that project initiators and CS networks foster socio-political impact through early engagement with decision-makers and alignment with ongoing policy processes. In this way, CS can evolve its transformative impact.

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Citizen scientists—practices, observations, and experience

O’Grady,

Mangina

2024

Humanit Soc Sci Commun

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Citizen science has been studied intensively in recent years. Nonetheless, the voice of citizen scientists is often lost despite their altruistic and indispensable role. To remedy this deficiency, a survey on the overall experiences of citizen scientists was undertaken. Dimensions investigated include activities, open science concepts, and data practices. However, the study prioritizes knowledge and practices of data and data management. When a broad understanding of data is lacking, the ability to make informed decisions about consent and data sharing, for example, is compromised. Furthermore, the potential and impact of individual endeavors and collaborative projects are reduced. Findings indicate that understanding of data management principles is limited. Furthermore, an unawareness of common data and open science concepts was observed. It is concluded that appropriate training and a raised awareness of Responsible Research and Innovation concepts would benefit individual citizen scientists, their projects, and society.

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Research Data Management Challenges in Citizen Science Projects and Recommendations for Library Support Services. A Scoping Review and Case Study

Cited by 6 publications

References 36 publications

Citizen science in environmental and ecological sciences

Citizen science in environmental and ecological sciences

Citizen science’s transformative impact on science, citizen empowerment and socio-political processes

Citizen scientists—practices, observations, and experience

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