Investigating the process of ethical approval in citizen science research: the case of Public Health

Ficorilli, Antonella; Maccani, Giovanni; Balestrini, Mara; Biggeri, Annibale; De Marchi, Bruna; Froeling, Frederique; Gignac, Florence; Gražulevičienė, Regina; Hoek, Gerard; Kanduč, Tjaša; Kocman, David; Righi, Valeria; Basagaña Flores, Xavier

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.22323/2.20060204

Investigating the process of ethical approval in citizen science research: the case of Public Health

License

Citation

Ficorilli A, Maccani G, Balestrini M, Biggeri A, De Marchi B, Froeling FEM, Gignac F, Grazuleviciene R, Hoek G, Kanduč T, Kocman D, Righi V, Basagaña X. Investigating the process of ethical approval in citizen science research: the case of Public Health. JCOM. 2021;20(06):A04. DOI: 10.22323/2.20060204

Abstract

Undertaking citizen science research in Public Health involving human subjects poses significant challenges concerning the traditional process of ethical approval. It requires an extension of the ethics of protection of research subjects in order to include the empowerment of citizens as citizen scientists. This paper investigates these challenges and illustrates the ethical framework and the strategies developed within the CitieS-Health project. It also proposes first recommendations generated from the experiences of five citizen science pilot studies in environmental epidemiology within this project.