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The Eyewitness Community Survey: An Engaging Citizen Science Tool to Capture Reliable Data while Improving Community Participants’ Environmental Health Knowledge and Attitudes

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  • Melinda Butsch Kovacic

    (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
    Department of Rehabilitation, Exercise, and Nutrition Sciences, College of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA)

  • Shereen Elshaer

    (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
    Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura City 35516, Egypt)

  • Theresa A. Baker

    (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA)

  • Vincent Hill

    (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
    Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, Cincinnati, OH 45214, USA)

  • Edith Morris

    (Evaluation Services Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA)

  • Keren Mabisi

    (Evaluation Services Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA)

  • Ian Snider

    (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA)

  • Susan Gertz

    (Center for Chemistry Education, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA)

  • Susan Hershberger

    (Center for Chemistry Education, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA)

  • Lisa J. Martin

    (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA)

Abstract

Many youths and young adults have variable environmental health knowledge, limited understanding of their local environment’s impact on their health, and poor environmentally friendly behaviors. We sought to develop and test a tool to reliably capture data, increase environmental health knowledge, and engage youths as citizen scientists to examine and take action on their community’s challenges. The Eyewitness Community Survey (ECS) was developed through several iterations of co-design. Herein, we tested its performance. In Phase I, seven youths audited five 360° photographs. In Phase II, 27 participants works as pairs/trios and audited five locations, typically 7 days apart. Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability were determined. Changes in participants’ knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and self-efficacy were surveyed. Feedback was obtained via focus groups. Intra-rater reliability was in the substantial/near-perfect range, with Phase II having greater consistency. Inter-rater reliability was high, with 42% and 63% of Phase I and II Kappa, respectively, in the substantial/near-perfect range. Knowledge scores improved after making observations ( p ≤ 0.032). Participants (85%) reported the tool to be easy/very easy to use, with 70% willing to use it again. Thus, the ECS is a mutually beneficial citizen science tool that rigorously captures environmental data and provides engaging experiential learning opportunities.

Suggested Citation

  • Melinda Butsch Kovacic & Shereen Elshaer & Theresa A. Baker & Vincent Hill & Edith Morris & Keren Mabisi & Ian Snider & Susan Gertz & Susan Hershberger & Lisa J. Martin, 2023. "The Eyewitness Community Survey: An Engaging Citizen Science Tool to Capture Reliable Data while Improving Community Participants’ Environmental Health Knowledge and Attitudes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(14), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:14:p:6374-:d:1195057
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Trisha Gura, 2013. "Citizen science: Amateur experts," Nature, Nature, vol. 496(7444), pages 259-261, April.
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