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A Scientist's Guide to Citizen Science

by Marbie25 on March 11, 2015

Table of Contents
A Scientist's Guide to Citizen Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Intro: A Scientist's Guide to Citizen Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 1: Where to Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Find Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Local Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 2: Data Collection Tools (physical) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Pencil and Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Microscope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Binoculars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Measurement Tool(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Specimen Collections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 3: Data Collection Tools (digital) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 4: Species Identification Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Field Guides General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Field Guides Group Specific . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dichotomous keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 5: The Extra Mile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Database Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Reference/Citation Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Graphing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 6: Putting it all Together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 7: What Happens Now? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 8: Doing Your Own Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Scientific Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Scientists-Guide-to-Citizen-Science/

Author:Marbie25
Marine Biologist. Former SCUBA diver. Artsy-craftsy and all-around nerd. Mocha latte addict. I love to think of ways I could make something that I can't
afford. Always thinking. Always thinking about how to stop thinking. Also, cats!

Intro: A Scientist's Guide to Citizen Science

Citizen science is all the rage right now, as it should be.
However, its difficult to get into hands-on citizen science. You might ask yourself, Where do I start?, What do I need?, How can I be most efficient?. These are
all good questions for any citizen scientist to ask, as data collection in the field (i.e., out in a forest, at the coast, etc.) is often quite rigorous.
As a scientist, I know that citizen science is important not just because it helps us researchers collect more data than we would by ourselves or in small groups, but also
because it gets people involved in science and more excited about the process. I feel as though there should be more resources out there for people looking to become
citizen scientists or for citizen scientists looking to improve their findings. A recent study has shown that participants often start strong, but then the project ends up
relying on a few dedicated people. While it was online projects that were studied, I imagine the same is happening with field projects.
Thus, Im creating this guide for citizen scientists that are focusing on ecology. That is, anyone keeping track of species, communities, interactions, animal behavior, etc.
I will attempt to make it as comprehensive as possible with the knowledge I have.

Image Notes
1. Here I'm using a Celestron digital LCD portable microscope to look at some
fungi up close.

Step 1: Where to Start

First things first: Where do I start?. If you want to become a citizen scientist but aren't sure what kind of projects are out there, don't you worry. Start with these
resources I have found for you!

Basics
There are two basic kinds of projects you can get involved in: "arm-chair" and hands-on. "Arm chair" science sounds terrible, but it's a fantastic way for citizen scientists
short on time or just getting started to collect data from their computer because it's typically search and/or point and click data collection from images. Hands-on science
is when the participant is actively collecting data in the field.

Find Projects
SciStarter.com is an excellent place to start. You can search for projects based on location, topic, cost, and many other variables.
For instance, a project in Maine is The Juvenile Lobster Monitoring Project that aims to measure the abundance and distribution of juvenile lobsters in nurseries to
measure their health and productivity. This project will train volunteers and all you need is a good pair of boots!
Other places to check for projects include:
Wikipedias list of Citizen Science Projects
Audubons Citizen Science page
Cornells Citizen Science Central Project Gateway
National Wildlife Foundation Citizen Science page
National Geographics Citizen Science Projects page
Natures Notebook
Monarch Joint Ventures Monarch Migration Project
iNaturalist Projects

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Scientists-Guide-to-Citizen-Science/

CitSci Projects
The below are primarily online projects:
Zooniverse
Scientific Americans Citizen Science page
Citizen Science Alliance Projects page

Local Projects
There are likely many additional citizen science opportunities in your local area. Non-profits that focus on environmental issues or "protect" land or bodies of water are
often in need of volunteers to collect data and they will typically give training.
If you're attending a University, graduate students might be looking for volunteers to help them go out and collect data as well!

Step 2: Data Collection Tools (physical)

Ok, so now that you have settled on a project (or two, or three), you might wonder, What do I need?
Before you get any of this, make sure you are dressed appropriately for the conditions! Please, please, please do NOT wear flip-flops when collecting data. They are not
appropriate at any time. Trust me on this.
There are many data collection tools that you may use, depending on the project. I, for one, prefer using good old-fashion pencil and paper. I know, boring, right? But you
know, I work near salt water and having electronics around just isnt the best idea.

Pencil and Paper

If you decide you want to use pencil and paper, you just cant beat Rite in the Rain products. Even if you arent working near an ocean, river, or lake, you could
potentially get rained on or be working in otherwise wet conditions. They sell all sorts of paper, notebooks, gear, and pencils, all specialized to repel water.
If you dont want to spend the money, a regular notebook or paper and clipboard are just fine! If you know what kind of data youll be collection, printing out a
spreadsheet is even better.
Pencil and paper are good for if youre already familiar with what kind of data is being collected and what you might encounter, so what if you are identifying species that
you havent encountered before? Well, if youre using pencil and paper and have nothing else, the best thing to do is write a detailed description of the organism and
draw a picture of it.

Camera
Having a camera is a great piece of equipment to have for recording observations if you are not able to collect live specimens (which will of course be returned where you

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Scientists-Guide-to-Citizen-Science/

found them unless instructed otherwise by the project leader). Geolocation is a fantastic way to record the exact location of an observation if you have that ability! From
personal experience, try to invest in a sturdy camera that is water/shock resistant.

Microscope
I'll let you in on a secret (because most people I've met have no idea they exist)...there is such a thing as portable microscopes. There are a few different kinds, but the
most common are digital handheld and USB.
Portable microscopes are the bee's knees when it comes to small things and they are pretty inexpensive. I use these for my field work because I study tiny marine
animals. I have a Celestron Portable LCD Microscope, but they now have a few other types with the ability to take photos. This one is perfect ifs you don't want to take a
tablet into the field! For that, I use a USB digital portable microscope (Celestron sells these too), so I can view things through my tablet/laptop screen and take photos. If
using a program from the next step, I can put the photos directly into my notes.

Binoculars
Studying something that is far away? Binoculars are a must have. Many projects involve birds, bats, butterflies, and other things that you might need binoculars for.

Measurement Tool(s)
Always a good idea! Length, width, and other measurements are common data points and can give insight into the age of an organism or even it's reproductive capability.
A regular old ruler will do in most cases, but a tape measure or vernier calipers may be better depending on what sizes you're dealing with. Obviously you may not be
taking measurements in the case of dangerous or otherwise inaccessible animals, but if you are, please take precautions any time you will be getting close
enough to measure anything!

Specimen Collections
Some projects might request that you collect specimens in whole or part, especially if its something that might be newly invasive. Be sure you know whether this is
needed before you start!
If needed, be sure you take collection materials with you. This could include buckets, nets, baggies, tweezers/forceps, gloves, scrapers, a stop watch, plant press, etc.

Image Notes
1. Rite in the Rain notebooks. Best journals in the world! No joke. I have more than
I probably need.

Image Notes
1. Cameras are a great way to document findings.
2. Homer bucket...always a classic with marine biologists!

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Scientists-Guide-to-Citizen-Science/

Image Notes
1. Know the proper way to interact with the animals before doing so to avoid injury.
Crab pinches hurt!

Step 3: Data Collection Tools (digital)

By digital data collection, I mean data that is recorded using a laptop, tablet, phone, or other mobile device. Many of these resources can be used in the field and once
you get back home (in case youre of the pencil and paper only breed).
The most basic digital collection tools you probably already have. These include:
word processing (Open Office, MS Word, Google Docs),
spreadsheet (MS Excel, Google Sheets),
forms (Google Forms), and/or
note-taking programs (Evernote, MS OneNote, any number of mobile apps).
I have found note-taking programs to be the most useful because they can easily record information (including photos) and will often store it with timestamps.
However, there is software that specializes in ecological data collection. I will only be listing those that are free/Open Source projects.
EpiCollect: a web and mobile app that allows you to create forms and collect data (including GPS and image data) with created forms on Android devices and iOSs.
There is EpiCollect for simple projects (single GPS/image data) and EpiCollect+ for more complex projects (any number of GPS, image, video, audio, and includes form
logic).
iNaturalist: a website with complimentary mobile app (Android and iOS) to record species observations
iMapInvasives: a website with complimentary mobile app (Android and iOS) to record invasive species observations
CyberTracker: good customizable app (Android and Windows Mobile) for recording GPS data; uses icons for fast collection
Neukadye Timestamped Field Notes: an app (Android and iOS) that uses quick text buttons and observation events to efficiently record notes; good for behavior records
Neukadye Field Journal: an app (iOS) that automatically geo-locates and timestamps notes
Project Noah: a website and app (Android and iOS) that lets you keep track of Project Noah projects and document wildlife observations
National Geographics FieldScope : a website and app (Android and iOS) to explore and add data to FieldScope projects

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Scientists-Guide-to-Citizen-Science/

Image Notes
1. Looks blank, but I'm showing people what is growing on this rock using a portable microscope.

Step 4: Species Identification Tools

One of the main types of citizen science is observing the natural world, which often requires the identification of plants and animals. This can be pretty overwhelming if
there is no training involved and you have no idea where to look. This section will cover some starting points.
Your local book store will have a variety of guides to animals in your region. These are very helpful and are usually quite comprehensive. Sometimes you can also find
fold-out laminated field guides that are good for quick identifications of common plants and animals.

Field Guides General

Discover Life IDnature: a website that allows you to identify plants and animals based on characteristics
eNature: a website that lets you search a database using various categories, including descriptive characteristics like color, habitat, and region

Field Guides Group Specific

Leafsnap: an app that will help you identify plants by recognizing a photo (iOS)
Audubon Guides ($14.99): a field guide app to help in the identification of birds, mammals, wildflowers, and trees using photos, descriptions, ranges, etc. (iOS)
Audubon Wildflowers ($4.99): an app that will help you identify plants using an image of their flower among other characteristics; has a field journal to record sightings
(Android, iOS, HP webOS, and NOOK)
Audubon Birds and Butterflies ($9.99): a field guide app to help in the identification of birds and butterflies using photos, descriptions, ranges, etc. (iOS)
Audubon Reptiles and Amphibians ($4.99): a field guide app to help in the identification of reptiles and amphibians using photos, descriptions, ranges, etc. (iOS)
BugGuide: a website to help you identify species of bugs

Dichotomous keys
A dichotomous key is a commonly used identification tool where the user goes through a series of choices until the specimen is keyed out. Keys may go to any
taxonomic level and the characteristics used to make a key will vary based on the group or types of organisms. Despite the name, dichotomous keys sometimes use
more than 2 choices.
For instance, if I find a leaf and want to know what species of tree it belongs to, I could use a dichotomous key that looks like this:
1. Leaf shape elliptical..2
---Leaf shape ovate..14
2. Leaf venation pinnate...3
---Leaf venation palmate......4
3. And so on.
In this example, the key is going to go through leaves with an elliptical shape first, which is why the key continues with ovate-shaped leaves at #14. If my leaf is elliptical,
the key will then continue to the pattern of veins (venation) and then from there it will go onto a different characteristic until the key leads me to a species of tree.
Here are links to a few resources for dichotomous keys. Most keys are specific to region, so you might have to do searches for a key that fits your needs best.
Conifer Key: a text-based key for identifying coniferous trees to Genus level; brought to you by the American Museum of Natural History
InsectIdentification: online dichotomous key for arachnids and insects
Image-Based Key to the Zooplankton of North America: self-explanatory; a University of New Hampshire creation

Image Notes
1. Dichotomous key to genera of New England Bryozoa

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Scientists-Guide-to-Citizen-Science/

Image Notes
1. You might use a dichotomous key or field guide to identify this species of worm.

Step 5: The Extra Mile

If youre like me, youre not satisfied with just observing something and recording data. You want to KNOW MORE.
Like, why didnt I notice any of species X in habitat A, even though there were tons of species Y? Or, I wonder if species Z has ever been found here before? Or even, I
would like to keep track of the research done on species X. Perhaps you noticed a trend in sizes of animals during the year and you want to see it in graph form. Jeez, so
needy!
In this section, Ill go through some other resources that you may want to take advantage of. Again, Ill link primarily to common, free, or Open Source material.

Database Software
I typically use a combination of MS Excel and Access for database needs, but there are other programs out there that have many of the same functions. I prefer relational
databases, that way it cuts down on entering things multiple times (for instance, commonly visited sites or species taxonomy). Besides MS Access, you can download
LibreOffice Base which works just as well or use Grubba online. For DB beginners, these two are the easiest to get a hang of and for more advanced DB users, theres
always MySQL.

Reference/Citation Management
If you like journal articles, a reference management program is a huge time saver. I have heard reviews of many of them, but the favorites appear to be between Zotero,
Mendeley, and EndNote Basic. All of them have the same basic functions of storing papers, taking notes, and importing citations into word documents. I personally love
Mendeley because it offers more online storage space (2 GB vs. Zoteros 300 MB).

Mapping
While you might be entering your recorded data into a projects database, you may want to keep track of everything you find on your own. I have found Google Earth to
be the simplest tool to record presence data. Its super simple to stick geolocated images into your own map layer! An Open Source program similar to ArcGIS is QGIS
(or Quantum GIS). While there are others, these are the 2 I have found to be the most user-friendly.

Graphing
Again, I typically just use Excel or more advanced statistical programs when creating graphs. However, one online resource for making graphs and charts I have found
very useful is Plotly. With Plotly you can enter or upload data and it will suggest charts that best fit the data.

Image Notes
1. A look at Mendeley, a reference management software.

Step 6: Putting it all Together

So now you have a wealth of resources at hand to start (or continue) your foray into citizen science. How do you put them all together?
Here's a summary.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Find an interesting project

Go through training and/or read the instructions on how to gather the correct data
Use the appropriate resources to familiarize yourself with the subject (organism names you might need to know, scientific jargon you should know, etc.)
Prepare your data collection tools (physical and/or digital)
Get out there and DO SCIENCE! (also HAVE FUN)
Back at your computer, enter in your data/observations/pictures/what have you and send or upload to the project's leader or website
Update your resume
Nerd out and explore more things...go wild!

Did I miss anything? What has worked for you? Please let me know and I will update accordingly (and cite your name).

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Scientists-Guide-to-Citizen-Science/

Step 7: What Happens Now?

Good question. You went to a lot of work collecting precious, precious data and then you just kind of...send it off and that's it. Trust me, it doesn't get lost in the dark ether
of the internet (I hope). Scientists aren't asking for help, trashing your data, and then laughing over a cup of coffee (I HOPE??).
Your data will get combined with all the other data collected, probably in a spreadsheet, which then gets imported into statistical software and probably also a database
(like I talked about earlier) that contains a bunch of other types of relevant data.
Fun tables, charts, figures, etc. will be made using averages of numbers and appropriate statistical analyses will be run. Remember Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) from
stats class? That's a popular test that tells if two things are significantly different from each other. Ecologists have a huge number of tests they can use based on the data
collected and the experimental design. The link and attached pdf is a good explanation.
All those charts and tests will tell the project leader(s) what the results of the study are. That's when the most important part comes in...the MANUSCRIPT.
Yep, the final and most important part of any scientific study is the communication of results. Without that, what's the point? The researchers will type up a manuscript
and submit it to an appropriate scientific journal.
This paper will include:
An Abstract: a summarization of the project
An Introduction: background to the topic and why the project was carried out
Materials and Methods: how the study was done (this is where the citizen scientists will be mentioned!) and how the data was analyzed
Results: where all the raw information goes (averages, charts, tables, etc.)
Discussion: what the results mean and how all this ties in with other studies and the bigger picture, as it were
Acknowledgments: thanking funding sources and people involved in the project (that's you!)
References: a list of literature citations used in the paper
It will get passed on for review by other scientists in the field who will edit it and then pass it back. Once the journal feels it's ready, the manuscript will be approved and
sent in for printing.
Once that's all done, the manuscript is now a journal article.
So there you go. Your data will end up communicating information to other scientists, public officials, and anyone else who needs that information.
Congrats! You're a Citizen Scientist!

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Scientists-Guide-to-Citizen-Science/

Image Notes
1. The final result...a journal article in reference management software world-wide!!

File Downloads

Bayes.pdf (352 KB)

[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'Bayes.pdf']

Step 8: Doing Your Own Studies

Now that you have helped out a project, you might be interested in doing your own studies. Anyone can do science, that much is clear. But again, it can be hard to find
a starting point. You might have a starting point from the project you worked on or the project helped you figure out a good way to collect data on something else you've
always been interested in. It doesn't matter if it's already been done by "real" scientists! This section will give you the basics on how to go about doing science on your
own using the scientific method.

Scientific Method
Yup, the good old scientific method. Most of you already know it from science class, but here it is again (with a hypothetical cat example because the internet loves cats):
Ask a question - "What are the behavior of cats when exposed to catnip?"
Do background research - Google, Google Scholar, a University library and it's website (if a student/amuni), or a local library.
Construct a hypothesis - "Cats of varying ages perform different behaviors when exposed to catnip."
Note: Hypotheses and predictions are often confused with each other. A hypothesis is a statement that indicates a link between two (or more) factors and
a prediction is what you think will happen to one factor (the dependent factor) when exposed to another factor (the independent factor). Here is an
excellent resource explaining this topic in more detail. The prediction for this example might be "If I expose cats of different ages to a 1 oz. ball of catnip,
younger cats will perform more energy-consuming behaviors than older cats."
Test your hypothesis - If we're going to look at the cat's age and their catnip response, we'll obviously need cats of different ages and as many 1 oz. balls of catnip as
there are cats. To test the hypothesis, we'll need an appropriate experimental design. That is, what kind of behaviors are you looking for, how will you measure them, and
how will that data need to be analyzed?
A Primer on Experimental Design - Animal Behavior studies have special sampling methods (Ad Libitum, Focal Animal, All Occurrence, and
Instantaneous/Scan sampling) and a sheet of behavior types, or ethogram, which may include instantaneous or timed behaviors. Example ethograms here.
Because I've seen cats exposed to catnip before, I already know what kind of behaviors they might engage in. Since I want to know ALL behaviors of ONE
animal at a time, I would be doing Focal Sampling. Each cat would be given a 1 oz ball of catnip, observed for 1 hour, and behaviors timed (start and end
times) or checked if instantaneous. I have included an attachment of what your ethogram and data sheet might look like.
Since we want to know how catnip effects cats at different ages, you might separate the cats into 2 groups: young and old, where young cats are age 5
and below and old cats are older than 5 years.
Analyze your data - Take the average of times or counts of behaviors among all cats in the same age group (e.g., average number of seconds each young cat spent
chasing the catnip ball and average number of times an old cat licked the catnip ball). With those numbers you can make some graphs to see what the trends were. I
won't be going into statistical analysis (specifically biostatistics) here, but here and here are good resources for those interested.
Draw a conclusion - Ok, so hypothetically we found that young cats spend a lot of time chasing and batting the ball (high energy play) and old cats preferred to lick, rub,
and sniff the catnip ball while laying down (low-energy play). Great, that's what we predicted!
Communicate your results - You may not be writing a report or manuscript, but you probably have access to social media. Share your results!

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Scientists-Guide-to-Citizen-Science/

Image Notes
1. My cat goes crazy over catnip (bacon and eggs). Let's study it!

Image Notes
1. My home lab space.
2. Music is very important!

File Downloads

Instructables Cat Age and Catnip Response Study.pdf (224 KB)

[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'Instructables Cat Age and Catnip Response Study.pdf']

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Comments
43 comments Add Comment

Prime8inAtlanta says:

Mar 15, 2015. 9:43 PM REPLY

Marbie - Great post!! Thanks for all of the links you provided too. Looking forward to your next post. As a citizen scientist myself, I am always looking for
things I can do that will make a difference and to share my findings. Thanks for taking the time to create this short guide.

dreamsofacryotank says:

Mar 15, 2015. 8:21 PM REPLY

This is just too awesome for words <3 the instructable I wish I'd written. Cheers from Brazil!

mr_marte says:

Mar 15, 2015. 5:24 PM REPLY

Wow! Nice to know there are resourceful people like you trying to help the less scientifically able, speaking for myself of course:-), get into science stuff !

Exocetid says:

Mar 15, 2015. 2:46 PM REPLY

Nice. This is like crowdfunding, why not crowdscience?

The Internet is now the repository of all human knowledge. It's the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Planet Earth. Why should science be confined to esoteric
journals and tedious dissertations that take forever to move to the mainstream?
Let's get science going by just doing it!

spiderstones says:

Mar 15, 2015. 11:37 AM REPLY

Great project!!!!!

tomatoskins says:

Mar 12, 2015. 1:45 PM REPLY

This is great! I'm a Divemaster and the ocean is my passion, too bad I'm land locked where I live. Wonderful info here.

Marbie25 says:

Mar 12, 2015. 2:00 PM REPLY

Thanks! I'm a Master Diver, but haven't been diving in a while since graduation. You've got to make it back to the coast!

tomatoskins says:

Mar 12, 2015. 2:58 PM REPLY

Yeah, I've only been diving in the states twice. Once down in the Florida Key's and once over around Catalina Island (too cold for me there). But I am
headed down to Roatan for a week the end of July. You should get back in the water. It's the best place to be!

Marbie25 says:

Mar 13, 2015. 7:32 AM REPLY

Lucky! I learned to dive in Texas and Cozumel, but now I'm a cold-water gal who dives mostly in the Gulf of Maine with a drysuit. I got my Master
Diver cert. in the spring when it was around 44 degrees F. Brrrr!

tomatoskins says:

Mar 14, 2015. 1:44 AM REPLY

That doesn't sound pleasent in the slightest! But I've never dove a dry suit before. That might make me change my mind.

Marbie25 says:

Mar 15, 2015. 7:21 AM REPLY

Not bad once you get used to it. When it's cold outside it sure is great to unzip the drysuit and still be warm...not so with the wetsuit!

eveningside says:

Mar 13, 2015. 8:06 PM REPLY

going to post this on the sgu fb page

ashleyjlong says:

Mar 13, 2015. 3:37 PM REPLY

This is great!

zymurgeneticist says:

Mar 13, 2015. 6:18 AM REPLY

Thanks for opening the door of Citizen Science to many! It's fun knowing that anyone can incorporate a little scientific research on their next hike or trip to
the shore and help the greater scientific community.

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Scientists-Guide-to-Citizen-Science/

Marbie25 says:

Mar 13, 2015. 9:53 AM REPLY

Thank you! I made an additional step, "Doing Your Own Studies" that goes over the scientific method with a hypothetical example using cats.

Miss_Organized says:

Mar 13, 2015. 12:32 AM REPLY

Fantastic guide! this is great , well done!

mmccormack2 says:

Mar 12, 2015. 8:38 PM REPLY

Incredibly detailed! Nice work!

BeachsideHank says:

Mar 12, 2015. 2:32 PM REPLY

Wonderfully composed tutorial on launching an adventure in the realm of Citizen Science. Plenty o'links for further information too, well done!

bigpig says:

Mar 16, 2015. 5:56 AM REPLY

You are cuter than a bug's ear!

Prime8inAtlanta says:

Mar 15, 2015. 9:42 PM REPLY

Marbie - Great post!! Thanks for all of the links you provided too. Looking forward to your next post. As a citizen scientist myself, I am always looking for
things I can do that will make a difference and to share my findings. Thanks for taking the time to create this short guide.

Prime8inAtlanta says:

Mar 15, 2015. 9:41 PM REPLY

gaiatechnician says:

Mar 15, 2015. 11:05 AM REPLY

Your instructable is good and I have always concidered that I do self directed "citizen science" but maybe it is more "citizen engineering" and maybe we
need a "method" to do that type of research too? It simply isn't the same. I find that if you research an idea in too much detail, you get led along well worn
paths, but if you just get the basics and then start your project, it ends up quite different and it answers (and asks) a lot more questions. I started a bunch of
science projects and left them hanging because they need independent verification. Anyone want to help? Pretty much do your own self directed research
and publish it! They include mini airlift pumps that use really low pressure air. and a design method to make large solar cooking reflectors for "unattended
cooking". (The problem is parabolic dish is perfect for about 2 minutes but it takes an hour or 2 to cook food so those dishes are useless if you need to do
other things as your food cooks.) I guess this is citizen engineering and the rules for research are somewhat more wooly due to a matrix of factors that can
and do affect results. For instance, the mini airlift pumps. Efficiency? Hard to evaluate because there is no current air compressor that makes 0.7 psi
optimally, they have higher specs so they make 2 or 3 psi and you waste most of the "power". . But you can evaluate its efficiency at using 0.7 psi air. Lots of
times you got to break things down like that. If it proves to be good at it, eventually the manufacturers will make pumps that compress air to that state
efficiently. Brian

DanielJS7 says:

Mar 15, 2015. 10:45 AM REPLY

Thanks for the info and nice presentation.

fenikkusu says:

Mar 15, 2015. 10:02 AM REPLY

Agreed! A throwback to Neanderthal man no doubt. But with so many of us intelligent women around, his genes will be kicked out of the gene pool...lol.
Rock on Marbie!

tytower says:

Mar 13, 2015. 2:43 AM REPLY

I definately want to do a scientific study on masturbation practices of human females . You will agree that once mentioned the sniggers start but it is a
practice that is far more widespread than most people imagine and is the breeding ground for myths and misinformation. So the question is where do I start.
Would you give me a hand?

Marbie25 says:

Mar 13, 2015. 6:15 AM REPLY

Instead of flagging this for deletion, here's my reply that I hope will be a continuation of my post.
As a woman in science, on the internet, these types of comments are common but not appropriate or welcome. Outside the internet, almost two
thirds of women working in the field sciences have reported sexual harassment.
If you are a woman in science or have a woman in your life that is interested in science, please be aware that comments on one's looks or gender may
be more common than those on one's work or contribution to society. Even so, know that your work IS important and we need your contributions!

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Scientists-Guide-to-Citizen-Science/

tytower says:

Mar 13, 2015. 10:42 PM REPLY

Hmm I see . I am regrettably not surprised by your off the cuff response . Interpretation is always in the hands of the reader and emotional ,
conditioned responses in women is a fact of life we live with. Too bad .

Marbie25 says:

Mar 14, 2015. 4:53 AM REPLY

Ah yes, I'm to blame for being an emotional woman despite the fact that I'm trained in the sciences (Master's degree) to be objective. Of course,
how could I forget that?
Your comments relating to my gender are not appropriate on an instructable focusing on science. It's as simple as that.

tytower says:

Mar 15, 2015. 12:26 AM REPLY

Forgive me . Normally I would just pass on at this stage but I detect a note of ego and self importance that is perhaps misplaced . You have a
degree and that is a fine thing as your relations will tell you . However reflect on this , what you have done is learn to repeat parrot fashion
what you have been taught in a very rushed fashion over four years .
There was no time to reflect on what you were taught or to test it out thoroughly and form your own opinions as to what was true and what
might not be. Experience now comes to the fore as you move into your chosen field and after 4 or 5 decades you might just know something .
Firstly you must get a job . No mean feat in itself and you will have to compromise some and maybe you will eventually get lucky. I have two
degrees and I was lucky enough to make the choice to go to self employment at a very early stage and thus prospered.
You have the right idea though . get your name and your abilities out there as quickly and as far as you can . The job won't come looking for
you . This Instructible is a good start and i hope you continue to throw it out there . Good Luck

Marbie25 says:

Mar 15, 2015. 1:21 AM REPLY

"I sense ego... from a woman... better put her back in her place!"
Your ego was apparent to me right from the start. You have no idea what my experience is inside or outside school. Hint: the majority of
this Instructable was not learned in school but through experience. Please take your life lessons elsewhere.

fenikkusu says:

Mar 15, 2015. 7:16 AM REPLY

Marbie if this is your passion then DO IT! There is nothing wrong with having a strong vocation to which you are dedicated and sharing it
like this so that other people can share in it as well is... well that bit is BRILLIANT!
This is a great instructable from an intelligent woman. Kudos and respect! Thank you for sharing with all of us! You are enriching other
people's lives by doing so and there is more to life than chasing the almighty dollar! If you like basically doing much needed volunteer
work then that makes you a cut above the rest frankly and shows you... Yep this is you ... doing things for the RIGHT reasons!

Marbie25 says:

Mar 15, 2015. 8:55 AM REPLY

Thanks, I appreciate your kind words and support as well as everyone who has responded positively or with advice :)
It's too bad there are people out there who take every opportunity they can to make rude and ridiculous comments (specifically
aimed at women) and/or attempt to bring people down.

silkier says:

Mar 15, 2015. 8:07 AM REPLY

What a delightfully condescending comment Mr Ty. As you are at the grand old age of 24, according to your listing, it is interesting to see
you spout about the decades of experience that you seem to claim and the wonderful length of employment you have had to have
prospered thus. Congratulations.

ToyMaker says:

Mar 13, 2015. 1:40 PM REPLY

Well said! An excellent 'ible with great references.

As for t. above, vulgarity is NOT a substitute for wit.

billbillt says:

Mar 15, 2015. 6:09 AM REPLY

Very motivating and interesting Instructable... Got my vote.... Is the "Catnip Response Study" meant to be accessible?... It is not....

Marbie25 says:

Mar 15, 2015. 7:18 AM REPLY

Thank you! I see what you mean about the attachment and it should be accessible now.

skyboy_psu says:

Mar 13, 2015. 1:13 PM REPLY

Leafsnap is an app that identifies trees from a picture you take of a single leaf. Decent, but not perfect. It requires a white background for contrast.

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Scientists-Guide-to-Citizen-Science/

liam.plybon.3 says:

Mar 12, 2015. 7:43 PM REPLY

I love rite in the rain, I buy a new notebook every year! You suggest a plant press, and while I have one, it isn't super easy to hike around. Do you have a
specific kind that you use? Great work, too!

Marbie25 says:

Mar 13, 2015. 6:23 AM REPLY

Thank you and great point on the plant press! I have a mini plant press that I found at a local craft store, but you can also find them online in various
portable sizes. Forestry Suppliers has 3"x5" and 5"x8" presses with 12 or 10 driers. Acorn Naturalists has many different sizes and shapes and
expansion packs to suit your needs best :) Googling "mini plant press" or "portable plant press" will bring up some other options as well.

Marbie25 says:

Mar 13, 2015. 6:28 AM REPLY

Oops! I wasn't aware that you could only create one link in a comment. Since both of the above links are for Acorn Naturalists, here is the link for the
presses at Forestry Suppliers.

BCooL0220 says:

Mar 12, 2015. 1:38 PM REPLY

also... I meant to add that I buy a lot of items for quadrotors, video photography, etc.. One of the interesting things I have found is a microscope & monocular
that clip on to your cell phone and take some pretty amazing pictures and video. Great instructable, I can wait to get my son's in the field!

Marbie25 says:

Mar 12, 2015. 2:07 PM REPLY

Thank you! Glad to hear you're going to show your kids how awesome science is :)
I have seen those microscope clip-ons, but have never used them because I've seen them for iPhones only. Have you tried them and/or have a link? If
so, I will add it to the list under microscopes :)

BCooL0220 says:
Great Instructable!

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-Scientists-Guide-to-Citizen-Science/

Mar 12, 2015. 1:32 PM REPLY