Designing Virtual Organizations for Citizen Science A.Wiggins & K. Crowston IFIP 8.2 OASIS workshop 15 December, 2009

Motivation Problem: The Tyranny of Scale in scientific research –Geographic scale –Temporal scale –Data scale Solution: Redesigning scientific work –eScience: leverages ICTs to overcome challenges –Citizen Science: harnesses public interest to enable and extend research

Context Citizen Science –Scientific research that includes non- scientists as active contributors –Often has educational or civic goals in addition to scientific goals Diverse range of intellectual domains, wide variety of modes of participation Usually a type of virtual organization

Conceptual Framework Multi-level: distinct but interrelated individual and organizational factors IMOI model: outputs become inputs Contextually aware –Scientific processes and goals Explicitly assuming involvement of professional scientists in project design and development –Participant processes and goals

Initial Model

Inputs Individual –Demographics –Skills –Motivations Organizational –Task design –Organizational design –Technology design

Moderators Processes –Individual: Joining, contributing –Organizational: Scientific research, volunteer management, data management Emergent States –Individual: Commitment, roles –Organizational: Sustainability, community

Outputs Individual –Contributions –Satisfaction –Learning Organizational –Knowledge –Communication –Innovation

Issues Heterogeneity and scope –From stardust to bumblebees –From a handful to a horde Participation is like… –Crowdsourcing –Layered individual work –Small group interactions –Networks of practice –Social movements

Future Work Develop typology of citizen science projects, guided by this framework –Validate and revise iteratively In-depth case studies Examine “experience design” of contributors’ participation to optimize for: –Scientifically valuable outcomes –Participant benefit and learning –Project sustainability

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