Title |
Process, Not Product: Investigating Recommendations for Improving Citizen Science “Success”
|
---|---|
Published in |
PLOS ONE, May 2013
|
DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0064079 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Amy Freitag, Max J. Pfeffer |
Abstract |
Citizen science programs are increasingly popular for a variety of reasons, from public education to new opportunities for data collection. The literature published in scientific journals resulting from these projects represents a particular perspective on the process. These articles often conclude with recommendations for increasing "success". This study compared these recommendations to those elicited during interviews with program coordinators for programs within the United States. From this comparison, success cannot be unilaterally defined and therefore recommendations vary by perspective on success. Program coordinators tended to have more locally-tailored recommendations specific to particular aspects of their program mission. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 7 | 30% |
United Kingdom | 5 | 22% |
Sweden | 1 | 4% |
Canada | 1 | 4% |
Netherlands | 1 | 4% |
Unknown | 8 | 35% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 13 | 57% |
Scientists | 8 | 35% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 2 | 9% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 5 | 3% |
Germany | 2 | 1% |
United Kingdom | 2 | 1% |
Spain | 2 | 1% |
Canada | 1 | <1% |
Serbia | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 185 | 93% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 36 | 18% |
Researcher | 35 | 18% |
Student > Master | 35 | 18% |
Other | 19 | 10% |
Student > Bachelor | 19 | 10% |
Other | 27 | 14% |
Unknown | 27 | 14% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Environmental Science | 50 | 25% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 45 | 23% |
Social Sciences | 21 | 11% |
Computer Science | 10 | 5% |
Engineering | 8 | 4% |
Other | 29 | 15% |
Unknown | 35 | 18% |