ArticlePDF Available

A framework for addressing ethical issues in citizen science

Authors:

Abstract

The collaboration between laypeople and professional scientists known as “citizen science” is an important trend in research and data gathering. Citizen science offers important benefits to science and society. For example, citizens can help scientists with data collection and provide advice on research design and implementation. Citizens can also gain a better understanding of scientific concepts and methods. Additionally, citizens can help scientists better understand and address issues of concern to their families and communities. However, citizen science also raises ethical issues that should be addressed when projects begin and throughout the course of scientific investigation. To promote ethical research, scientists should develop guidelines for involvement of citizens in research, communicate effectively with participants and local communities at the outset of their involvement in research projects, carefully oversee their work, develop appropriate publication practices, and provide lay-volunteers with education and training on the responsible conduct of research. Researchers also need to be cognizant of clarifying these roles and responsibilities as well as promoting appropriate and safe citizen participation and transparency of the study methods, data analysis, and communication of results.
... A list of terms related by way of family resemblance to 'citizen science' can be found in Pelacho et al. (2021). contributors should be given recognition for their contributions (Resnik, 2019b;Resnik et al., 2015;Ward-Fear et al., 2020;Riesch & Potter, 2014;Tauginienė, 2019) while arguing that existing authorship guidelines in many cases permit, or even mandate, exclusion of CS contributors from authorship. We discuss the reasonableness of this. ...
... Another criticism is that they, despite the attempt to ensure uniformity, fail to recognize and respect the variety of distinct accounts of authorship that prevail in different academic disciplines (Moffatt, 2018). One example here is CS, which involves roles and tasks that are not credited in the current system but, some would argue, should be credited through authorship under some conditions (Resnik, 2019b;Resnik et al., 2015;Ward-Fear et al., 2020;Riesch & Potter, 2014;Tauginiené, 2019). In what follows, we will take a closer look at some of the arguments underlying this type of criticism. ...
... In contrast, gathering and analyzing data, participating in discussions on hypotheses, and similar activities, are more consistent with conventional views on contributions. While many participants in CS projects primarily help gather and collect data, volunteers can also play central roles in formulating the study aims and research design and instigation of community-based research projects (Resnik et al., 2015). We argue that some such CS contributions deserve recognition through authorship; still, they are often neglected (Cooper et al., 2014;Ward-Fear et al., 2020). ...
Article
Full-text available
Citizen science (CS) is an umbrella term for research with a significant amount of contributions from volunteers. Those volunteers can occupy a hybrid role, being both ‘researcher’ and ‘subject’ at the same time. This has repercussions for questions about responsibility and credit, e.g. pertaining to the issue of authorship. In this paper, we first review some existing guidelines for authorship and their applicability to CS. Second, we assess the claim that the guidelines from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), known as ‘the Vancouver guidelines’, may lead to exclusion of deserving citizen scientists as authors. We maintain that the idea of including citizen scientists as authors is supported by at least two arguments: transparency and fairness. Third, we argue that it might be plausible to include groups as authors in CS. Fourth and finally, we offer a heuristic list of seven recommendations to be considered when deciding about whom to include as an author of a CS publication.
... Además, existe el riesgo de desigualdad en el acceso a los datos: mientras que las instituciones o empresas con mayores recursos pueden aprovecharlos para desarrollar nuevas tecnologías o políticas, los participantes individuales frecuentemente no tienen acceso equitativo a los mismos resultados. Un desafío ético fundamental -no desligado de las dimensiones científica, económica, social y política de la ciencia ciudadana-es evitar la instrumentalización de la participación ( [38], [39], [40]). Hay quienes se manifiestan en contra de toda iniciativa de ciencia ciudadana, pues consideran que siempre se promueven bajo intereses mercantilistas (e.g., [41]). ...
... Con esta base, es posible extraer conclusiones tanto sobre las fortalezas actuales de la ciencia ciudadana en España como sobre los aspectos que podrían beneficiarse de mayor apoyo o innovación en el futuro. 38 Impactos-CC: Conocer y potenciar los impactos de la ciencia ciudadana en España. Informe final. ...
Technical Report
Full-text available
The project "Impactos-CC: Understanding and Enhancing the Impacts of Citizen Science in Spain" has pioneered the collaborative development of a tool to measure the impacts of citizen science at national level. This tool is mainly based on the work of nearly a hundred scientists in Spain, as well as previous work carried out by other European researchers. This Final Report presents the methodology for the co-design of citizen science impact indicators and the results of their application to twenty-nine projects carried out in Spain.
... Furthermore, not all areas of science are of public interest, thus prompting bias in the subjects covered by CS (Fritz et al., 2022). Important ethical ramifications for CS include the sharing and use of CS-collected data and ensuring reciprocity between research and volunteer scientists (Resnik et al., 2015). However, it is widely recognized that CS, when conducted along high scientific and ethical standards, "could benefit society greatly" (Wilkinson et al., 2016). ...
Preprint
1) Developing methods for valuing nature aim to address biodiversity and environmental crises caused by nature’s undervaluation in decision-making. However, implementing methods to assess nature’s benefits is challenging for a myriad of reasons. 2) We explored whether community science (CS) could support a more holistic assessment of nature’s benefits on a national scale using a mixed-methods approach, featuring a systematic review of UK CS and a survey of UK community scientists, comparing UK national guidance on nature’s benefits with national CS projects and scientist experience. Our study is the first to: (a) combine a systematic review and survey to examine the relationship between UK CS and nature’s benefits, (b) assess community scientists’ perceptions of CS and nature’s benefits nationally, and (c) evaluate links between national nature’s benefits guidance, current CS programs, and community scientist experience. 3) Both the systematic review and the survey found that while few UK CS projects directly assess nature’s benefits, numerous programs indirectly relate to nature’s benefits, most often through assessing biodiversity. Furthermore, community scientists supported further expanding and integrating CS as a supplementary approach for assessing nature’s benefits, albeit with some caveats. 4) However, both the review and the survey also revealed substantial dissonance between national guidance on nature’s benefits, the CS academic literature, and community scientist experiences and perceptions of nature’s benefits, specifically for benefits from culture and recreation, soils and minerals, and aquatic environments. 5) In light of the highlighted discrepancies, our results suggest CS is a valuable tool for engaging local communities in assessing benefits of nature to people, nevertheless, future research and policy should better integrate CS into nature benefit’s assessments and vice versa. Addressing existing gaps in CS and widening CS methods to be more inclusive of pluralistic nature valuation methods and concepts is also crucial for wider application of CS related to nature’s benefits assessments.
... With respect to actors' involvement, issues of legitimacy and acknowledgment are often overlooked, as was evidenced by numerous participatory science initiatives, primarily crowdsourcing. Can we truly speak of 'participatory sciences', given that their development can also be perceived by society as an instrumentalization of the individuals involved (Calame, 2015;Resnik et al., 2015). Furthermore, there is a genuine question of semantics and ethics, as the term 'citizen scientist' is frequently used 10 . ...
Article
Full-text available
Scientific disciplines have been studying the impact of human activities on the planet since 1972 and have developed accurate scenarios. However, they have faced challenges in effecting timely changes. In their pursuit of excellence, these disciplines may have become excessively specialized, isolating themselves from one another and hindering their ability to tackle complex problems. As a solution we could envisage fostering interdisciplinary relationships between these disciplines, or involving society at large. However, both options would require dealing with different systems of evidence, languages, epistemologies, and temporalities. In the field of viticulture, despite numerous projects spanning more than two decades, the global use of harmful pesticides has persisted, leading us down a dead-end. Designing more environmentally friendly viticultural practices and extending beyond agriculture has consequently become an urgent and crucial issue. In this paper I compare the contributions of various disciplines and their relationships with one another in addressing this issue through a series of projects ranging from monodisciplinarity to interdisciplinarity. We also discuss their limitations in resolving the problem at hand. Drawing on ten years of experience in participatory-action research, we propose moving beyond interdisciplinary approaches and embracing a ‘transformative’ transdisciplinary path. This approach can profoundly transform all stages of research, from formulating questions to generating knowledge and implementing actions. Transformative participatory-action research also impacts relationships between disciplines and between researchers and societal actors, as well as the forms of reasoning involved. I suggest that such an epistemology, while better suited to dealing with complexity, can contribute to a much-anticipated sea change in the world.
... Platforms and technologies play a significant role in shaping ethical practices in citizen science. Platforms like iNaturalist and MINKA should take into account addressing the ethical challenges in data governance in citizen science projects, particularly the challenges of sharing data while protecting the privacy and ensuring fair acknowledgment of participants (Resnik et al. 2015). Therefore, addressing ethical challenges within citizen science by integrating considerations such as data privacy, benefit distribution, and participant decision-making is essential. ...
Book
Full-text available
We are in a time of rapid change on multiple levels. Change can be seen as positive by one group and negative by another. As a result, different perspectives on any given change can draw completely different conclusions. In these proceedings we want to address different approaches to change from all kinds of perspectives within the realm of citizen science and participatory research. We discuss both active, transformative change, and the observation of change monitored by citizen science in all kinds of disciplines. We highlight the potential of citizen science to be a change maker in research and society, and as a tool to manage the change happening around us. The proceedings "Change - The transformative power of citizen science" showcase a selection of topics that have been presented and discussed at the ECSA/ACSC 2024 double conference in Vienna and highlight the transformative power, citizen science can have.
Article
The technique of using naturally occurring light‐emitting reactants (photoproteins and luciferases] that have been extracted from a wide range of animals is known as bioluminescence imaging, or BLI. This imaging offers important details on the location and functional state of regenerative cells inserted into various disease‐modeling animals. Reports on gene expression patterns, cell motions, and even the actions of individual biomolecules in whole tissues and live animals have all been made possible by bioluminescence. Generally speaking, bioluminescent light in animals may be found down to a few centimetres, while the precise limit depends on the signal's brightness and the detector's sensitivity. We can now spatiotemporally visualize cell behaviors in any body region of a living animal in a time frame process, including proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and immunological responses, thanks to BLI. The biological applications of in vivo BLI in nondestructively monitoring biological processes in intact small animal models are reviewed in this work, along with some of the advancements that will make BLI a more versatile molecular imaging tool.
Preprint
Full-text available
Over the past few decades, citizen science has proven to be a valuable tool for research projects by involving the public in large-scale data collection. This collaboration between researchers and volunteers has been shown to be highly beneficial, allowing for efficient data collection in shorter time frames than possible for individual researchers. This study introduces a citizen science-inspired approach to teaching and curriculum design, involving undergraduate students directly in active research. Using a case study on dinosaur eye size, integrated into a first-year undergraduate course in Geology and Palaeontology at a UK university, the study presents the advantages of this approach for both teachers and learners. As part of the study, 22 undergraduate students were involved in data collection, analysis, and the subsequent publication processes, emphasizing active student participation in research. A subsequent survey demonstrated high student engagement and perceived relevance of the citizen science-style teaching approach. Results indicate that students found the approach appealing, engaging, and beneficial for understanding scientific concepts and methods. The case study shows that a citizen science approach to research-informed teaching can enhance student engagement and learning by providing meaningful, hands-on research experiences. This approach allows students to apply theoretical knowledge in a realistic context, fostering independence in quantitative research skills and collaborative learning. Despite potential challenges related to data accuracy and student motivation, the benefits of integrating such approaches into higher education curricula are substantial, offering a valuable model for teaching in Earth Sciences and beyond.
Article
Full-text available
This study examined the moderation effect of employee engagement in the relationship between talent management and turnover intentions of workers at the Ghana Lands Commission. The study used the human capital and equity theories to explain the relationships among the constructs. The study used the quantitative approach and structural equation modelling (SEM) and employed structural equation modeling (SEM). Data was obtained from 300 employees using a three-wave survey approach that assured accuracy and reduced common method bias, resulting in a final sample of 250 respondents. The study found a positive significant effect of talent management on turnover intention. Again, employee engagement was found to significantly reduce employees’ intentions to quit, showing engagement's protective role against the potentially negative consequences of certain talent management practices. Finally, the study found engagement as a significant negative moderator on the link between talent management and turnover intentions. This emphasizes the need to cultivate a work environment that promotes participation, equality, and transparency in people management practices to reduce employee turnover and increase organizational stability.
Article
Full-text available
Although there have been many recent calls for increased data sharing, the majority of environmental scientists do not make their individual data sets publicly available in online repositories. Current data-sharing conversations are focused on overcoming the technological challenges associated with data sharing and the lack of rewards and incentives for individuals to share data. We argue that the most important conversation has yet to take place: There has not been a strong ethical impetus for sharing data within the current culture, behaviors, and practices of environmental scientists. In this article, we describe a critical shift that is happening in both society and the environmental science community that makes data sharing not just good but ethically obligatory. This is a shift toward the ethical value of promoting inclusivity within and beyond science. An essential element of a truly inclusionary and democratic approach to science is to share data through publicly accessible data sets.
Article
Full-text available
Citizen science offers a potentially cost-effective way for researchers to obtain large data sets over large spatial scales. However, it is not used widely to support biological data collection for fisheries stock assessments. Overfishing of demersal fishes along 1,000 km of the west Australian coast led to restrictive management to recover stocks. This diminished opportunities for scientists to cost-effectively monitor stock recovery via fishery-dependent sampling, particularly of the recreational fishing sector. As fishery-independent methods would be too expensive and logistically-challenging to implement, a citizen science program, Send us your skeletons (SUYS), was developed. SUYS asks recreational fishers to voluntarily donate fish skeletons of important species from their catch to allow biological data extraction by scientists to produce age structures and conduct stock assessment analyses. During SUYS, recreational fisher involvement, sample sizes and spatial and temporal coverage of samples have dramatically increased, while the collection cost per skeleton has declined substantially. SUYS is ensuring sampling objectives for stock assessments are achieved via fishery-dependent collection and reliable and timely scientific advice can be provided to managers. The program is also encouraging public ownership through involvement in the monitoring process, which can lead to greater acceptance of management decisions.
Article
Full-text available
The rapid growth and increasing popularity of smartphone technology is putting sophisticated data-collection tools in the hands of more and more citizens. This has exciting implications for the expanding field of citizen science. With smartphone-based applications (apps), it is now increasingly practical to remotely acquire high quality citizen-submitted data at a fraction of the cost of a traditional study. Yet, one impediment to citizen science projects is the question of how to train participants. The traditional "in-person" training model, while effective, can be cost prohibitive as the spatial scale of a project increases. To explore possible solutions, we analyze three training models: 1) in-person, 2) app-based video, and 3) app-based text/images in the context of invasive plant identification in Massachusetts. Encouragingly, we find that participants who received video training were as successful at invasive plant identification as those trained in-person, while those receiving just text/images were less successful. This finding has implications for a variety of citizen science projects that need alternative methods to effectively train participants when in-person training is impractical.
Article
Pollution kills hundreds of thousands of people annually. This book shows why this environmental epidemic continues. Campaign contributors, lobbyists, and special interests often control information by capturing media and even science itself. Yet this book puts the blame - and the solution - on the shoulders of ordinary citizens. Calling for a new "democratic revolution" and arguing that justice requires us each to become the change we seek, this book offers many concrete proposals for reform - many based on American Public Health Association recommendations.
Article
This book examines a variety of ways in which societal values can be more effectively integrated into the numerous judgments associated with policy-relevant environmental research. It provides a detailed analysis of contemporary research on the hypothesis of hormesis (i.e., beneficial biological effects caused by low-dose exposure to pollutants that are ordinarily toxic). On the basis of this analysis, as well as shorter case studies of endocrine disruption and multiple chemical sensitivity, the book proposes three lessons. First, university conflict-of-interest policies are significantly limited in their ability to prevent interest groups from "hijacking" academic research on sensitive policy-relevant topics. Therefore, alternative strategies are needed to preserve science that serves the public interest. Second, concerned citizens and policy makers need to more carefully determine the most appropriate forms of broadly based deliberation to be employed in response to specific areas of sensitive, policy-relevant research. Third, the principle of informed consent, which currently provides guidance in the medical field, suggests a promising ethical framework that can help environmental scientists who disseminate debated findings to the public. Throughout, the book highlights many of the crucial ethical and societal questions surrounding research on the hormesis hypothesis. It thereby constitutes the first book-length manuscript to provide guidance to the concerned citizens, industry groups, scientists, and policy makers who are exploring ways to respond to this phenomenon.
Article
The abstract for this document is available on CSA Illumina.To view the Abstract, click the Abstract button above the document title.
Article
Ethicists and policy makers have spent a good deal of effort considering how to make societal decisions in response to emerging public- and environmental-health risks like those posed by nanomaterials. This paper explores how these sorts of ethical and societal value judgments about responding to nanotechnology’s environmental health and safety risks arise not only in the public-policy domain but also “upstream,” in the performance of scientific research. It focuses especially on the notion that particular forms of research can be more “precautionary” than others, in the sense that they tend to facilitate the identification and prevention of environmental or public health threats to a greater extent than other approaches. This is illustrated in a specific case study of recent research in nanotoxicology, which shows how ethical and societal values could influence at least four aspects of research: (1) the nanomaterials studied; (2) the biological models used to investigate them; (3) the effects examined; and (4) the standards of evidence required for drawing conclusions. The paper concludes by proposing some mechanisms for integrating more careful ethical reflection into these “upstream,” value-laden decisions that pervade research on nanotechnology as well as other policy-relevant areas of science.
Article
Researchers increasingly rely on members of the public to contribute to scientific projects—from collecting or identifying, to analyzing and disseminating data. The “citizen science” model proves useful to many thematically distinctive fields, like ornithology, astronomy, and phenology. The recent formalization of citizen science projects addresses technical issues related to volunteer participation—like data quality—so that citizen scientists can make longstanding, meaningful contributions to scientific projects. Since the late 1990s, canine science research has relied with greater frequency on the participation of the general public, particularly dog owners. These researchers do not typically consider the methods and technical issues that those conducting citizen science projects embrace and continue to investigate. As more canine science studies rely on public input, an in-depth knowledge of the benefits and challenges of citizen science can help produce relevant, high-quality data while increasing the general public's understanding of canine behavior and cognition as well as the scientific process. We examine the benefits and challenges of current citizen science models in an effort to enhance canine citizen science project preparation, execution, and dissemination.