{"id":2710,"date":"2025-07-31T10:41:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T07:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.uef.fi\/bors\/?page_id=2710"},"modified":"2025-10-10T08:09:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T05:09:22","slug":"planning-a-citizen-science-project","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.uef.fi\/bors\/module-2-citizen-science\/planning-a-citizen-science-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Planning a citizen science project"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Photo by Christina Morillo, Pexels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Foundations of citizen science projects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Citizen science can be adapted and applied within diverse situations and disciplines. The European Citizen Science Association<\/a> (ECSA) has outlined Ten Principles of Citizen Science to guide the development and implementation of citizen science projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10 Principles of Citizen Science<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Citizen science projects actively involve citizens in scientific endeavour that generates new knowledge or understanding.<\/strong> Citizens may act as contributors, collaborators, or as project leaders and have a meaningful role in the project.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Citizen science projects have a genuine science outcome. <\/strong>For example, answering a research question or informing conservation action, management decisions or environmental policy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Both the professional scientists and the citizen scientists benefit from taking part.<\/strong> Benefits may include the publication of research outputs, learning opportunities, personal enjoyment, social benefits, satisfaction through contributing to scientific evidence e.g. to address local, national and international issues, and through that, the potential to influence policy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Citizen scientists may, if they wish, participate in multiple stages of the scientific process.<\/strong> This may include developing the research question, designing the method, gathering and analysing data, and communicating the results.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Citizen scientists receive feedback from the project. <\/strong>For example, how their data are being used and what the research, policy or societal outcomes are.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Citizen science is considered a research approach like any other, with limitations and biases that should be considered and controlled for.<\/strong> However, unlike traditional research approaches, citizen science provides an opportunity for greater public engagement and democratisation of science.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Citizen science project data and meta-data are made publicly available and where possible, results are published in an open access format. <\/strong>Data sharing may occur during or after the project, unless there are security or privacy concerns that prevent this.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Citizen scientists are acknowledged in project results and publications.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Citizen science programmes are evaluated for their scientific output, data quality, participant experience and wider societal or policy impact.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. The leaders of citizen science projects take into consideration legal and ethical issues surrounding copyright, intellectual property, data sharing agreements, confidentiality, attribution, and the environmental impact of any activities.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Once you consider including citizen science in your research project, you should first ask whether citizen science is the best approach to answer your research question. Citizen science can significantly increase the amount of data collected as well as enhance scientific discovery and public engagement, but it is important to acknowledge that it may not always be the most suitable method. So, consider how involving volunteer participants will benefit your project and the participants themselves. To ensure success, continuous support and engagement with participants is necessary. While this can be time-consuming, it is essential; the more effort you invest, the greater the benefits for both you and your participants in citizen science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Good Scientific Practice (GSP)<\/a><\/strong> also guides citizen science projects. The GSP guidelines emphasize the importance of drafting and adhering to necessary agreements, permissions, and instructions, as well as showing respect toward all parties involved in the research project. The handling and management of data are likewise essential for implementing good scientific practice: “Before data collection, agreements must be made with all partners regarding at least ownership and usage rights, handling, storage, and potential sharing of the data.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In citizen science, it is important to plan and carry out research data management in a way that all participants can understand in practical terms – not as bureaucratic jargon. Good data management enables the creation of high-quality datasets and the validation of research results. In practice, documenting the data and its collection, as well as describing the data (metadata), are key to ensuring data quality in all research projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    New technologies offer fresh opportunities for the future of citizen science. Mobile technology enables easier and wider data collection, as the data-gathering tool usually travels with the user. Artificial intelligence can be utilised e.g. for analyzing large datasets and ensuring data quality. For example, AI-assisted species identification can reduce the number of incorrect observations. The growing use of new technologies and the availability of reasonably priced sensors and detectors make it easier to add local environmental conditions to other observations. Additionally, virtual reality, augmented reality, and other distributed systems allow citizen scientists to access a variety of research environments, making tasks like analysis and collaborative writing more achievable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Tips for researchers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    In addition, these tips can be used to plan your citizen science project:<\/p>\n\n\n\t

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