May the Force Be with Them: Exploring Strategies to Overcome Challenges of Co-Created Citizen Science

Julia Suess-Reyes, Katie Hyslop, Susanne Beck, Marion Poetz, Tanja Krasnikov, Alissa Prinsloo

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Abstract

Crowd and citizen science projects have been on the rise for more than 20 years, involving citizens in a diversity of scientific projects. While this seems to address the policy-makers’ call for more public engagement, most citizens’ contributions remain limited to low-complexity tasks with minimal decision rights such as data collection, processing or analysis (i.e., they are contributory). Collaborative and co-created projects that leverage citizens’ knowledge at eye level, however, are in the minority, which might be related to specific challenges these projects face (e.g., higher coordination costs and task complexity). Hence, these projects require additional attention from project coordinators and citizens. This paper explores specific challenges to co-created citizen science projects and proposes facilitating strategies for overcoming them based on ten case studies across different scientific fields. Our findings are summarized in propositions and depicted in a conceptual model highlighting the significance of the citizen scientists’ and project coordinators’ skills and attitudes, project-related, as well as contextual factors for successful co-creation. The propositions present a roadmap for future empirical research on citizen science and hold meaningful practical implications for scholars and policy makers interested in exploring the role of citizen science beyond providing inputs to data collection and/or analysis."
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the Eightieth Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management
EditorsGuclu Atinc
Number of pages1
Place of PublicationBriarcliff Manor, NY
PublisherAcademy of Management
Publication date2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020
EventThe Academy of Management Annual Meeting 2020: Broadening Our Sight - Virtual
Duration: 7 Aug 202011 Aug 2020
Conference number: 80
https://aom.org/events/annual-meeting/past-annual-meetings/2020-broadening-our-sight

Conference

ConferenceThe Academy of Management Annual Meeting 2020
Number80
LocationVirtual
Period07/08/202011/08/2020
Internet address
SeriesAcademy of Management Proceedings
ISSN2151-6561

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