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What Motivates Volunteers to Engage in Health-Related Citizen Science Initiatives? A Case Study of Our Outdoors

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Listed:
  • Elizabeth Lehman

    (School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Plenty Road and Kingsbury Drive, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia)

  • Ruth Jepson

    (School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, 5 Forest Hill, Edinburgh EH1 2QL, UK)

  • John McAteer

    (Independent Researcher, 23/5 Hopetoun Crescent, Edinburgh EH7 4AY, UK)

  • Daryll Archibald

    (School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Plenty Road and Kingsbury Drive, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia
    School of Health Sciences, University of Dundee, 11 Airlie Place, Dundee DD1 4HJ, UK)

Abstract

Citizen science is increasing in popularity but remains largely located in the disciplines of environmental and natural sciences. However, it has the potential to be a useful tool in other disciplines such as health. The aim of this study was to identify the factors for involvement (or non-involvement) in health-related citizen science projects using the Our Outdoors citizen science initiative as an example. Our Outdoors aims to understand how urban and rural shared outdoors spaces (e.g., parks, lakes, rivers, beaches) can affect human health and well-being (both positively and negatively). Understanding the motivations for involvement in such a program is likely to be useful for increasing participation rates and involvement. Qualitative research methods were used in this study in which semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants from two community projects in Scotland, United Kingdom. A thematic analysis revealed five key themes pertaining to the factors that motivated engagement with health-related citizen science projects such as Our Outdoors. These include enhancing social connectedness; personal learning development; making a difference in the community; gaining health and well-being benefits; and finally, demotivating factors relating to time constraints and the term “citizen science”. This study concludes that emphasising motivating factors in the promotional material for health-related citizen science projects may increase recruitment and the active involvement of participants. Similarly, reducing the presence of demotivating factors and considering the use of the term “citizen science” is likely to encourage participation

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth Lehman & Ruth Jepson & John McAteer & Daryll Archibald, 2020. "What Motivates Volunteers to Engage in Health-Related Citizen Science Initiatives? A Case Study of Our Outdoors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:19:p:6950-:d:417824
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jeffrey A. Burr & Jan E. Mutchler & Francis G. Caro, 2007. "Productive Activity Clusters Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Intersecting Forms and Time Commitments," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 62(4), pages 267-275.
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