How Empowering Is Citizen Science? Access, Credits, and Governance for the Crowd. Issue 2 (1st June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Shun-Ling
• Is Part Of: East Asian science, technology and society. Volume 13:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 215
• Page End: 234
• Publication Date: 2019-06-01
• Subjects: citizen science -- crowdsource -- peer production -- Galaxy Zoo -- distribution -- open access -- scientific authorship -- republic of science -- democratization of science -- collaborative project governance -- collaborative platform governance; 關鍵字: 公民科學 -- 眾包 -- 同儕生產 -- 星系動物園 -- 資源分配 -- 開放近用 -- 學術論文作者 -- 科學共和國 -- 科學民主化 -- 協作計畫之治理 -- 協作平台之治理; Science -- East Asia -- Periodicals; Technology -- East Asia -- Periodicals; Science; Technology; East Asia; Periodicals; 306.46095
• DOI: 10.1215/18752160-7497711
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1875-2160

Abstract

Abstract: Web-based crowdsourced citizen science is an efficient method for scientists to collect and process data. Although lay persons obtain the opportunities to participate in research and engage with scientists, these crowdsourced projects generally maintain the traditional hierarchy of academic science. Lay persons have little say in project or platform governance, and institutional tools to hold project investigators accountable are almost nonexistent. This article examines how existing institutional policies address the question of distribution in crowdsourced citizen science, as it may further affect lay participants' role in the institution of scientific knowledge production and their access to research resources. This article begins by comparing the norms developed by citizen-science institutions. It then discusses examples from Galaxy Zoo to see how the results of research projects are distributed, both in the form of access to research outcome and in authorship. The article also discusses the potential conflicts that arise when crowdsourced projects are organized by for-profit companies and why citizen-science platforms should develop institutional norms to avoid such conflicts.