Pathfinder: an online collaboration environment for citizen scientists

For over a century, citizen scientists have volunteered to collect huge quantities of data for professional scientists to analyze. We designed Pathfinder, an online environment that challenges this traditional division of labor by providing tools for citizen scientists to collaboratively discuss and analyze the data they collect. We evaluated Pathfinder in a sustainability and commuting context using a mixed methods approach in both naturalistic and experimental settings. Our results showed that citizen scientists preferred Pathfinder to a standard wiki and were able to go beyond data collection and engage in deeper discussion and analyses. We also found that citizen scientists require special types of technological support because they generate original research. This paper offers an early example of the mutually beneficial relationship between HCI and citizen science. Author Keywords Citizen science, online collaboration, online communities, social computing, social data analysis, s...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2009
• Where: CHI
• Authors: Kurt Luther, Scott Counts, Kristin B. Stecher, Aaron Hoff, Paul Johns
• Keywords: CHI 2009, Citizen Science, Citizen Scientists, Human Computer Interaction, Scientists Preferred Pathfinder