TY - GEN
T1 - Mechanisms for data quality and validation in citizen science
AU - Wiggins, Andrea
AU - Newman, Greg
AU - Stevenson, Robert D.
AU - Crowston, Kevin
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Data quality is a primary concern for researchers employing a public participation in scientific research (PPSR) or "citizen science" approach. This mode of scientific collaboration relies on contributions from a large, often unknown population of volunteers with variable expertise. In a survey of PPSR projects, we found that most projects employ multiple mechanisms to ensure data quality and appropriate levels of validation. We created a framework of 18 mechanisms commonly employed by PPSR projects for ensuring data quality, based on direct experience of the authors and a review of the survey data, noting two categories of sources of error (protocols, participants) and three potential intervention points (before, during and after participation), which can be used to guide project design.
AB - Data quality is a primary concern for researchers employing a public participation in scientific research (PPSR) or "citizen science" approach. This mode of scientific collaboration relies on contributions from a large, often unknown population of volunteers with variable expertise. In a survey of PPSR projects, we found that most projects employ multiple mechanisms to ensure data quality and appropriate levels of validation. We created a framework of 18 mechanisms commonly employed by PPSR projects for ensuring data quality, based on direct experience of the authors and a review of the survey data, noting two categories of sources of error (protocols, participants) and three potential intervention points (before, during and after participation), which can be used to guide project design.
KW - citizen science
KW - data quality
KW - data validation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84856964075&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84856964075&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/eScienceW.2011.27
DO - 10.1109/eScienceW.2011.27
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84856964075
SN - 9780769545981
T3 - Proceedings - 7th IEEE International Conference on e-Science Workshops, eScienceW 2011
SP - 14
EP - 19
BT - Proceedings - 7th IEEE International Conference on e-Science Workshops, eScienceW 2011
T2 - 7th IEEE International Conference on e-Science Workshops, eScienceW 201
Y2 - 5 December 2011 through 8 December 2011
ER -