1.3.16—Citizen science
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Objective
- 1.3.16
- Level
- HL
Make Citizen Observations Usable Evidence
Citizen science contributes to research when public observations follow a clear question, standardized method and usable data checks.
Repeated local observations can reveal change and, when pooled consistently, support larger studies. Participation expands coverage but does not remove sampling or measurement bias.
Volunteers count the same butterfly species along fixed transects each month, allowing sites to be compared over time.
No. It needs a research purpose and a method that makes the observation usable.
Citizen science is not casual opinion; protocol and data quality matter.