A Science Products Inventory for Citizen-Science Planning and Evaluation

Andrea Wiggins, Rick Bonney, Gretchen Lebuhn, Julia K. Parrish, Jake F. Weltzin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Citizen science involves a range of practices involving public participation in scientific knowledge production, but outcomes evaluation is complicated by the diversity of the goals and forms of citizen science. Publications and citations are not adequate metrics to describe citizen-science productivity. We address this gap by contributing a science products inventory (SPI) tool, iteratively developed through an expert panel and case studies, intended to support general-purpose planning and evaluation of citizen-science projects with respect to science productivity. The SPI includes a collection of items for tracking the production of science outputs and data practices, which are described and illustrated with examples. Several opportunities for further development of the initial inventory are highlighted, as well as potential for using the inventory as a tool to guide project management, funding, and research on citizen science.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)436-444
Number of pages9
JournalBioScience
Volume68
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • altmetrics
  • citizen science
  • evaluation
  • science policy
  • science products inventory

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A Science Products Inventory for Citizen-Science Planning and Evaluation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this