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Participant Outcomes of Biodiversity Citizen Science Projects: A Systematic Literature Review

Author

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  • Maria Peter

    (Kiel Science Outreach Campus (KiSOC), IPN - Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education, Olshausenstr. 62, 24118 Kiel, Germany
    Department of Landscape Ecology, Institute for Natural Resource Conservation, Kiel University, Olshausenstr. 75, 24118 Kiel, Germany)

  • Tim Diekötter

    (Department of Landscape Ecology, Institute for Natural Resource Conservation, Kiel University, Olshausenstr. 75, 24118 Kiel, Germany)

  • Kerstin Kremer

    (Department of Biology Education, IPN - Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education, Olshausenstr. 62, 24118 Kiel, Germany
    Biology Education, IDN - Institute for Science Education, Leibniz University Hannover, Am kleinen Felde 30, 30167 Hannover, Germany)

Abstract

Citizen science is becoming increasingly popular as a format in environmental and sustainability education. Citizen science not only allows researchers to gather large amounts of biodiversity-related data, it also has the potential to engage the public in biodiversity research. Numerous citizen science projects have emerged that assume that participation in the project affects participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. We investigated what evidence really exists about the outcomes of biodiversity citizen science projects on the side of the individual participants. For this purpose, we conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed research articles published up to and including 2017. We found evidence for various individual participant outcomes. The outcome reported most often was a gain in knowledge. Other outcomes, found in several articles, referred to changes in behavior or attitudes. Outcomes reported less often were new skills, increased self-efficacy and interest, and a variety of other personal outcomes. We discuss the research design and methods used in the reviewed studies und formulate specific recommendations for future research. We conclude that citizen science is a promising option for environmental and sustainability education focusing on biodiversity. Partnerships between natural and social scientists in the design and evaluation of projects would allow future biodiversity citizen science projects to utilize their full educational potential.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Peter & Tim Diekötter & Kerstin Kremer, 2019. "Participant Outcomes of Biodiversity Citizen Science Projects: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:10:p:2780-:d:231339
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. David Moher & Alessandro Liberati & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Douglas G Altman & The PRISMA Group, 2009. "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-6, July.
    3. Denis Couvet & Frédéric Jiguet & Romain Julliard & Harold Levrel & A. Teyssèdre, 2008. "Enhancing citizen contributions to biodiversity science and public policy," Post-Print hal-00362940, HAL.
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniela De Filippo & María Luisa Lascurain & Andres Pandiella-Dominique & Elias Sanz-Casado, 2020. "Scientometric Analysis of Research in Energy Efficiency and Citizen Science through Projects and Publications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-25, June.
    2. Laura Christ & Marie Hahn & Anne-Kathrin Sieg & Daniel C. Dreesmann, 2022. "Be(e) Engaged! How Students Benefit from an Educational Citizen Science Project on Biodiversity in Their Biology Classes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-15, November.
    3. Anastasia Adamou & Yiannis Georgiou & Demetra Paraskeva-Hadjichambi & Andreas Ch. Hadjichambis, 2021. "Environmental Citizen Science Initiatives as a Springboard towards the Education for Environmental Citizenship: A Systematic Literature Review of Empirical Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-29, December.
    4. Nadja Pernat & Anika Kristin Gathof & Johann Herrmann & Birgit Seitz & Sascha Buchholz, 2023. "Citizen Science Apps in a Higher Education Botany Course: Data Quality and Learning Effects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-15, August.
    5. Brack W. Hale, 2021. "Educating for the Environment: The Role of the Host Destination in Education Travel Programs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-17, July.
    6. Federica Compagnone & Marco Varricchione & Michele Innangi & Mirko Di Febbraro & Anna Loy & Angela Stanisci & Maria Carla de Francesco & Giorgio Matteucci & Maria Laura Carranza, 2023. "Coastal Biodiversity Assessment Aided by Citizen Science Volunteers: A Look at the Italian Central Adriatic," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-20, November.
    7. Andrea Spasiano & Salvatore Grimaldi & Alessio Maria Braccini & Fernando Nardi, 2021. "Towards a Transdisciplinary Theoretical Framework of Citizen Science: Results from a Meta-Review Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-22, July.
    8. María Consuelo Sáiz-Manzanares & Sara Gutiérrez-González & Ángel Rodríguez & Lourdes Alameda Cuenca-Romero & Verónica Calderón & Miguel Ángel Queiruga-Dios, 2020. "Systematic Review on Inclusive Education, Sustainability in Engineering: An Analysis with Mixed Methods and Data Mining Techniques," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-18, August.
    9. Wessel Ganzevoort & Riyan J. G. van den Born, 2021. "Counting Bees: Learning Outcomes from Participation in the Dutch National Bee Survey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-17, April.
    10. Baptiste Bedessem & Lucie Morère & Louise Roblin & Anne Dozières & Anne-Caroline Prévot, 2022. "Participatory Biodiversity Governance: A Comparison of Two French Initiatives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-19, June.
    11. Bing Mei & Shuxia Yang, 2019. "Nurturing Environmental Education at the Tertiary Education Level in China: Can Mobile Augmented Reality and Gamification Help?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-12, August.
    12. Jennifer Schneiderhan-Opel & Franz X. Bogner, 2020. "The Relation between Knowledge Acquisition and Environmental Values within the Scope of a Biodiversity Learning Module," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-19, March.
    13. Zaenal Akbar & Hani Febri Mustika & Dwi Setyo Rini & Lindung Parningotan Manik & Ariani Indrawati & Agusdin Dharma Fefirenta & Tutie Djarwaningsih, 2021. "An Ontology-Driven Personalized Faceted Search for Exploring Knowledge Bases of Capsicum," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-17, June.

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