Friday, May 13, 2011

Costs of doing business, traditional versus citizen science


So what does it cost to collect entomology data? Using data collected by the Buckeye Lady Beetle Blitz program, I am working on a paper with co-authors from the Lost Ladybug Project and UK Ladybird Survey to measure the accuracy of citizen-collected lady beetle data. We are interested in the costs both monetarily and in data accuracy of utilizing citizen science. We are comparing the costs of traditional science (researchers collect data), verified citizen science (citizens collect data that is checked by researchers) and direct citizen science (citizens collect data which is analyzed without being verified by researchers).

We compared the monetary costs associated with collecting a yellow sticky card trap using each type of science. Cost estimates included sampling supplies, labor costs, travel, workshops for volunteers, and website development and maintenance. We found that to collect one sticky card using traditional science costs approximately $132! To collect one sticky card using verified or direct citizen science costs $65.31 and $43.74 respectively. Therefore programs that employ verified citizen science can collect 2 times as many samples for the same cost when compared to traditional science. Since all data is verified by researchers, accuracy rates for species identification should be equivalent using traditional science and verified citizen science. The only loss of data quality would be due to errors in the way the sample was collected, so programs utilizing citizen science need to be sure to provide clear instructions to their volunteers. Direct citizen science will provide 3 times the samples of traditional science for the same cost. The tradeoff here is a potential loss of accuracy. Accuracy rates among the three programs examined ranged from 53-94% of lady beetles correctly identified by volunteers. Therefore, high levels of accuracy can be attained using direct citizen science but programs should consider some type of data verification at least in the beginning so that an error rate among citizen-supplied data can be calculated.

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