Citizen Science and Natural Resource Management: A Social Network Analysis of Two Community-Based Water Monitoring Programs

IF 2.2 3区社会学 Q2 DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

Society & Natural Resources Pub Date : 2023-03-29 DOI:10.1080/08941920.2023.2183445

Patrick R. Bonney, B. Hansen, C. Baldwin

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引用次数: 1

Abstract

Abstract In natural resource management contexts, citizen science programs often involve a diversity of actors collaborating in broad social networks. However, the characteristics and functioning of these networks has received limited attention. In this article, we demonstrate the benefits of applying social network research to citizen science practice. Through a mixed methods approach, we compare data sharing and collaboration networks of two community-based water monitoring programs in Australia. The quantitative component revealed that despite similarities in actor diversity and activities, both programs have created divergent network structures (centralized vs decentralized) corresponding to their scale of influence in environmental decision-making (regional vs local impacts). The qualitative component showed how individuals navigated their relationships and managed key tensions inherent to network functioning. This study provides new insights on the role of social networks in citizen science and concludes by recommending program leaders adopt a “networking mindset” to maximize their sphere of influence.

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公民科学与自然资源管理:两个社区水监测项目的社会网络分析

摘要在自然资源管理背景下，公民科学项目通常涉及在广泛的社会网络中合作的各种参与者。然而，这些网络的特点和功能受到的关注有限。在这篇文章中，我们展示了将社会网络研究应用于公民科学实践的好处。通过混合方法，我们比较了澳大利亚两个基于社区的水监测项目的数据共享和协作网络。定量部分显示，尽管参与者的多样性和活动有相似之处，但这两个项目都创建了不同的网络结构（集中与分散），与它们在环境决策中的影响规模（区域与地方影响）相对应。定性部分显示了个人如何驾驭他们的关系，并管理网络功能所固有的关键紧张关系。这项研究为社会网络在公民科学中的作用提供了新的见解，并建议项目领导者采取“网络思维”，以最大限度地扩大他们的影响力。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Society & Natural Resources Multiple-

CiteScore

4.60

自引率

8.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Society and Natural Resources publishes cutting edge social science research that advances understanding of the interaction between society and natural resources.Social science research is extensive and comes from a number of disciplines, including sociology, psychology, political science, communications, planning, education, and anthropology. We welcome research from all of these disciplines and interdisciplinary social science research that transcends the boundaries of any single social science discipline. We define natural resources broadly to include water, air, wildlife, fisheries, forests, natural lands, urban ecosystems, and intensively managed lands. While we welcome all papers that fit within this broad scope, we especially welcome papers in the following four important and broad areas in the field: 1. Protected area management and governance 2. Stakeholder analysis, consultation and engagement; deliberation processes; governance; conflict resolution; social learning; social impact assessment 3. Theoretical frameworks, epistemological issues, and methodological perspectives 4. Multiscalar character of social implications of natural resource management