Public Participation in Scienctific Research: A Framework for Deliberate Design
Shirk, J. L., H. L. Ballard, C. C. Wilderman, T. Phillips, A. Wiggins, R. Jordan, E. McCallie, M. Minarchek, B. V. Lewenstein, M. E. Krasny, and R. Bonney. 2012. Public participation in scientific research: a framework for deliberate design. Ecology and Society 17(2): 29.
Abstract: Members of the
public participate in scientific research in many different
contexts, stemming from traditions as varied as
participatory action research and citizen science. Particularly
in conservation and natural resource management
contexts, where research often addresses complex
social–ecological questions, the emphasis on and nature of this
participation can significantly affect both the way that
projects are designed and the outcomes that projects achieve. We
review and integrate recent work in these and other fields,
which has converged such that we propose the term public
participation in scientific research (PPSR) to discuss
initiatives from diverse fields and traditions. We describe three
predominant models of PPSR and call upon case studies
suggesting that—regardless of the research context—project
outcomes are influenced by (1) the degree of public
participation in the research process and (2) the quality of
public participation as negotiated during project design.
To illustrate relationships between the quality of
participation and outcomes, we offer a framework that considers
how scientific and public interests are negotiated for
project design toward multiple, integrated goals. We suggest that
this framework and models, used in tandem, can support
deliberate design of PPSR efforts that will enhance their
outcomes for scientific research, individual participants,
and social–ecological systems.
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