The potential for citizen science to produce reliable and useful information in ecology

Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology
Eleanor D Brown, Byron K Williams

Abstract

We examined features of citizen science that influence data quality, inferential power, and usefulness in ecology. As background context for our examination, we considered topics such as ecological sampling (probability based, purposive, opportunistic), linkage between sampling technique and statistical inference (design based, model based), and scientific paradigms (confirmatory, exploratory). We distinguished several types of citizen science investigations, from intensive research with rigorous protocols targeting clearly articulated questions to mass-participation internet-based projects with opportunistic data collection lacking sampling design, and examined overarching objectives, design, analysis, volunteer training, and performance. We identified key features that influence data quality: project objectives, design and analysis, and volunteer training and performance. Projects with good designs, trained volunteers, and professional oversight can meet statistical criteria to produce high-quality data with strong inferential power and therefore are well suited for ecological research objectives. Projects with opportunistic data collection, little or no sampling design, and minimal volunteer training are better suited for ge...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 13, 2019·Scientific Reports·Ravi Bandara DissanayakeJoerg Henning
Jan 1, 2020·CABI Agriculture and Bioscience·Nathan BrownStephen Parnell
Aug 19, 2021·PloS One·Thomas EdwardsPadraig Corcoran

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