IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/teinso/v78y2024ics0160791x24001751.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Redefining the boundaries of citizen social science to avoid a repackaging of common social science methods

Author

Listed:
  • Freiling, Isabelle
  • Matthes, Jörg

Abstract

Citizen science (CS) means including volunteers alongside professional researchers in the research process. CS is predominantly and traditionally used in natural sciences, but also increasingly in social sciences. The understanding of traditional CS is oftentimes completely transferred to citizen social science, which we argue is inadequate. As social sciences study human interactions, they involve people in their data collection all the time. Commonly used social science methods therefore already cover one type of CS that is defined by including volunteers mainly in data collection: contributory CS. This overlap creates an urgent need for redefining the boundaries of citizen social science. We argue for only calling those projects citizen social science that go beyond contributory projects to avoid the mere repacking of commonly used social science methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Freiling, Isabelle & Matthes, Jörg, 2024. "Redefining the boundaries of citizen social science to avoid a repackaging of common social science methods," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:78:y:2024:i:c:s0160791x24001751
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2024.102627
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X24001751
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techsoc.2024.102627?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Florian Heigl & Barbara Kieslinger & Katharina T. Paul & Julia Uhlik & Daniel Dörler, 2019. "Reply to Auerbach et al.: How our Opinion piece invites collaboration," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 116(31), pages 15338-15338, July.
    2. Florian Heigl & Barbara Kieslinger & Katharina T. Paul & Julia Uhlik & Daniel Dörler, 2019. "Opinion: Toward an international definition of citizen science," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 116(17), pages 8089-8092, April.
    3. Francesco Cappa & Stefano Franco & Federica Rosso, 2022. "Citizens and cities: Leveraging citizen science and big data for sustainable urban development," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(2), pages 648-667, February.
    4. Sauermann, Henry & Vohland, Katrin & Antoniou, Vyron & Balázs, Bálint & Göbel, Claudia & Karatzas, Kostas & Mooney, Peter & Perelló, Josep & Ponti, Marisa & Samson, Roeland & Winter, Silvia, 2020. "Citizen science and sustainability transitions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(5).
    5. Jeremy Auerbach & Erika L. Barthelmess & Darlene Cavalier & Caren B. Cooper & Heather Fenyk & Mordechai Haklay & Joseph M. Hulbert & Christopher C. M. Kyba & Lincoln R. Larson & Eva Lewandowski & Lea , 2019. "The problem with delineating narrow criteria for citizen science," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 116(31), pages 15336-15337, July.
    6. Loreta Tauginienė & Eglė Butkevičienė & Katrin Vohland & Barbara Heinisch & Maria Daskolia & Monika Suškevičs & Manuel Portela & Bálint Balázs & Baiba Prūse, 2020. "Citizen science in the social sciences and humanities: the power of interdisciplinarity," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 6(1), pages 1-11, December.
    7. Russell, Linda Diane, 2015. "Democratizing the scientific space: The constellation of new epistemic strategies around the emerging metaphor of socially embedded autonomy," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 82-92.
    8. Dietram A. Scheufele & Nicole M. Krause & Isabelle Freiling & Dominique Brossard, 2021. "What we know about effective public engagement on CRISPR and beyond," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 118(22), pages 2004835117-, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Stefan Thomas & David Scheller & Susan Schröder, 2021. "Co-creation in citizen social science: the research forum as a methodological foundation for communication and participation," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Mindel, Vitali & Overstreet, Robert E. & Sternberg, Henrik & Mathiassen, Lars & Phillips, Nelson, 2024. "Digital activism to achieve meaningful institutional change: A bricolage of crowdsourcing, social media, and data analytics," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(3).
    3. Justus Henke, 2022. "Can Citizen Science in the Humanities and Social Sciences Deliver on the Sustainability Goals?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-20, July.
    4. Claudia Göbel & Sylvi Mauermeister & Justus Henke, 2022. "Citizen Social Science in Germany—cooperation beyond invited and uninvited participation," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Nadja Pernat & Jana Zscheischler & Helge Kampen & Emu-Felicitas Ostermann-Miyashita & Jonathan M Jeschke & Doreen Werner, 2022. "How media presence triggers participation in citizen science—The case of the mosquito monitoring project ‘Mückenatlas‘," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(2), pages 1-22, February.
    6. Regina Grazuleviciene & Sandra Andrusaityte & Aurimas Rapalavicius, 2021. "Measuring the Outcomes of a Participatory Research Study: Findings from an Environmental Epidemiological Study in Kaunas City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-15, August.
    7. Del Vecchio, Pasquale & Secundo, Giustina & Garzoni, Antonello, 2023. "Phygital technologies and environments for breakthrough innovation in customers' and citizens' journey. A critical literature review and future agenda," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    8. Kroh, Julia & Globocnik, Dietfried & Schultz, Carsten & Holdhof, Frederike & Salomo, Søren, 2024. "Micro-foundations of digital innovation capability – A mixed method approach to develop and validate a multi-dimensional measurement instrument," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    9. Nolan, Anne & Hoy, Aislinn, 2023. "Clean Air Together Dublin: Impact on air quality awareness, attitudes and behaviour," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number SUSTAT120.
    10. Sarita Albagli & Allan Yu Iwama, 2022. "Citizen science and the right to research: building local knowledge of climate change impacts," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-13, December.
    11. Evelien de Hoop, 2020. "More Democratic Sustainability Governance through Participatory Knowledge Production? A Framework and Systematic Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-30, July.
    12. Francesco Cappa & Stefano Franco & Federica Rosso, 2022. "Citizens and cities: Leveraging citizen science and big data for sustainable urban development," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(2), pages 648-667, February.
    13. Alexandra Albert, 2021. "Citizen social science in practice: the case of the Empty Houses Project," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    14. Johann Maria, 2023. "CSR strategy in the hospitality industry: from the COVID-19 pandemic crisis to recovery," International Journal of Contemporary Management, Sciendo, vol. 59(1), pages 1-11, March.
    15. Fernando Almeida, 2022. "The Contribution of Local Agents and Citizens to Sustainable Development: The Portuguese Experience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-18, October.
    16. Nicola Moczek & Silke L. Voigt-Heucke & Kim G. Mortega & Claudia Fabó Cartas & Jörn Knobloch, 2021. "A Self-Assessment of European Citizen Science Projects on Their Contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, February.
    17. Jens Schirmel, 2021. "COVID-19 Pandemic Turns Life-Science Students into “Citizen Scientists”: Data Indicate Multiple Negative Effects of Urbanization on Biota," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-16, March.
    18. Liina Tõnisson & Jens Voigtländer & Michael Weger & Denise Assmann & Ralf Käthner & Bernd Heinold & Andreas Macke, 2021. "Knowledge Transfer with Citizen Science: Luft-Leipzig Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-18, July.
    19. Miguel Ángel Queiruga-Dios & Emilia López-Iñesta & María Diez-Ojeda & María Consuelo Sáiz-Manzanares & José Benito Vázquez Dorrío, 2020. "Citizen Science for Scientific Literacy and the Attainment of Sustainable Development Goals in Formal Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-18, May.
    20. Mercy Gloria Ashepet & Liesbet Vranken & Caroline Michellier & Olivier Dewitte & Rodgers Mutyebere & Clovis Kabaseke & Ronald Twongyirwe & Violet Kanyiginya & Grace Kagoro-Rugunda & Tine Huyse & Liesb, 2024. "Assessing scale reliability in citizen science motivational research: lessons learned from two case studies in Uganda," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-18, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:78:y:2024:i:c:s0160791x24001751. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/technology-in-society .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.