Exploring children and young people’s experience of participating in citizen science–A qualitative evidence synthesis

Abstract

Objective

Citizen science with young people is becoming increasingly popular, and understanding their experience is valuable as it can improve research through improved participant motivation/ retention, alongside greater insight. The participants can benefit through opportunities to improve self-efficacy, learning, communication, and relationships. However, studies that explore young people’s experience of participating in citizen science have not been synthesised.

Methods

This qualitative thematic synthesis aimed to combine the literature on young citizen scientists’ experience of participating in citizen science research studies. Seven databases, Google Scholar and The Journal of Citizen Science Theory and Practice were searched from 2012 to January 2022 and updated in May 2023. The screening included identifying articles by scanning titles and abstracts and, finally, full texts and selecting the articles using inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study findings were synthesised using inductive thematic synthesis (Prospero registration CRD42022299973).

Results

Out of 3856 identified articles, 33 studies focusing on the participant experience were included in the synthesis. These papers were coded inductively. The resulting analytical structures were discussed and finalised. The researchers identified three main themes representing aspects of participant experience: relationships, power and personal growth, and three interwoven connecting themes: communication, self-efficacy and decision-making. An illustration of this would be communication bridging relationships and personal growth. As the citizen scientists’ communication skills developed through personal growth, their relationships changed both with the project, with the researchers and with wider stakeholders outside the project such as school staff.

Conclusion

These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of participant experience and how this can be used to inform future citizen science projects to facilitate a positive participant experience.