Hardback
How and When to Involve Crowds in Scientific Research
This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License. It is free to read, download and share on Elgaronline.com.
Marion K. Poetz and Henry Sauermann provide concise and invaluable instruction for researchers in this informative How to guide. Exploring the opportunities and challenges of involving crowds in all stages of the scientific process, they outline research strategies that organizers can implement for success.
Marion K. Poetz and Henry Sauermann provide concise and invaluable instruction for researchers in this informative How to guide. Exploring the opportunities and challenges of involving crowds in all stages of the scientific process, they outline research strategies that organizers can implement for success.
More Information
Critical Acclaim
Contents
More Information
This book explores how millions of people can significantly contribute to scientific research with their effort and experience, even if they are not working at scientific institutions and may not have formal scientific training.
Marion K. Poetz and Henry Sauermann provide a comprehensive guide for researchers, offering structured frameworks and tools for the effective design of crowd science projects. Drawing on examples from diverse disciplines, the book demonstrates the benefits of involving crowds at every stage of the research process, while recognizing potential challenges and offering solutions. It also discusses how recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) shape the role of crowds and can enhance the effectiveness of crowd science projects. This book aims to help scientists, policy makers, and citizens understand and leverage the potential of crowd science for more impactful research.
Innovative and accessible, How and When to Involve Crowds in Scientific Research is a vital interdisciplinary resource for scholars and researchers across academia, particularly those in social, natural and technology science fields. Experienced scholars will also find the insights presented here beneficial, for their own research and as they mentor graduate students and junior colleagues in developing innovative and impactful research projects.
Marion K. Poetz and Henry Sauermann provide a comprehensive guide for researchers, offering structured frameworks and tools for the effective design of crowd science projects. Drawing on examples from diverse disciplines, the book demonstrates the benefits of involving crowds at every stage of the research process, while recognizing potential challenges and offering solutions. It also discusses how recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) shape the role of crowds and can enhance the effectiveness of crowd science projects. This book aims to help scientists, policy makers, and citizens understand and leverage the potential of crowd science for more impactful research.
Innovative and accessible, How and When to Involve Crowds in Scientific Research is a vital interdisciplinary resource for scholars and researchers across academia, particularly those in social, natural and technology science fields. Experienced scholars will also find the insights presented here beneficial, for their own research and as they mentor graduate students and junior colleagues in developing innovative and impactful research projects.
Critical Acclaim
‘How and When to Involve Crowds in Scientific Research is a valuable guide to tapping the curious, busy, and creative masses of our species. Across natural sciences, medicine, social science and humanities, scientists and scholars will find this book an inspiring companion for navigating the benefits and challenges of engaging the public across stages of the research process for the collective benefit of all.’
– Caren Cooper, North Carolina State University, USA and Citizen Science Theory and Practice
‘The growing involvement of crowds in scientific research represents a significant development in how science is conducted. Poetz and Sauermann’s book provides valuable insights into the potential and challenges of crowd participation, effectively combining theoretical frameworks with practical guidance. By systematically addressing key aspects from problem formulation to data analysis and dissemination, the authors offer essential direction for researchers exploring this approach. This book will likely influence both academic discourse and research practice in the years ahead.’
– Karim Lakhani, Harvard University, USA
‘How and When to Involve Crowds in Scientific Research is a must-read for anyone interested in scientific innovation in a wide variety of public and industrial sectors. This book helps the policy maker, the researcher, the chief innovation officer, the strategist, and the tactician to determine how to use crowds in a manner that fosters collaborative innovation about complex problems. The authors have managed to create a book that is a how-to guide and primer for practitioners, as well as a scholarly depiction of evidence-based research and directions for future research, particularly for including AI when involving crowds.’
– Ann Majchrzak, University of Southern California, USA
– Caren Cooper, North Carolina State University, USA and Citizen Science Theory and Practice
‘The growing involvement of crowds in scientific research represents a significant development in how science is conducted. Poetz and Sauermann’s book provides valuable insights into the potential and challenges of crowd participation, effectively combining theoretical frameworks with practical guidance. By systematically addressing key aspects from problem formulation to data analysis and dissemination, the authors offer essential direction for researchers exploring this approach. This book will likely influence both academic discourse and research practice in the years ahead.’
– Karim Lakhani, Harvard University, USA
‘How and When to Involve Crowds in Scientific Research is a must-read for anyone interested in scientific innovation in a wide variety of public and industrial sectors. This book helps the policy maker, the researcher, the chief innovation officer, the strategist, and the tactician to determine how to use crowds in a manner that fosters collaborative innovation about complex problems. The authors have managed to create a book that is a how-to guide and primer for practitioners, as well as a scholarly depiction of evidence-based research and directions for future research, particularly for including AI when involving crowds.’
– Ann Majchrzak, University of Southern California, USA
Contents
Contents
Preface
PART I Introduction, conceptual foundations, and general tools
1 Setting the stage
2 Conceptual foundations
3 Tools for project design
PART II Involving crowds in different stages of the research process
4 Identifying and selecting research questions
5 Raising funding
6 Developing methods and materials
7 Collecting data
8 Processing and analyzing data
9 Solving problems
10 Writing
11 Diffusing and translating results
12 Crowd involvement across multiple stages
PART III Cross-cutting themes
13 Organizational challenges and solutions
14 Motivating and recruiting contributors
15 Research integrity, protecting participants, and using AI responsibly
16 Conclusion and Project Index
Preface
PART I Introduction, conceptual foundations, and general tools
1 Setting the stage
2 Conceptual foundations
3 Tools for project design
PART II Involving crowds in different stages of the research process
4 Identifying and selecting research questions
5 Raising funding
6 Developing methods and materials
7 Collecting data
8 Processing and analyzing data
9 Solving problems
10 Writing
11 Diffusing and translating results
12 Crowd involvement across multiple stages
PART III Cross-cutting themes
13 Organizational challenges and solutions
14 Motivating and recruiting contributors
15 Research integrity, protecting participants, and using AI responsibly
16 Conclusion and Project Index
