Graduation Date
Spring 2022
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Science degree with a major in Natural Resources: option Environmental Science and Management
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Yvonne Everett
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Jeffrey Black
Second Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. Joshua Meisel
Third Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Fourth Committee Member Name
Jennifer Tarlton
Keywords
Environmental knowledge, Science communication, Citizen science, Wildlife conservation, Art and science, Northern California
Subject Categories
Environmental Science and Management
Abstract
Citizen Science (CS) and scientific visual, spatial, and graphic art projects have the potential to engage community members, provide opportunities for advances in scientific literacy, increase interest in science and local environmental knowledge, and elevate pro-environmental attitudes. CS depends upon public participation, and motivation for participation is varied, including participants’ desire to learn something new or contribute to science or scientific knowledge. An effective CS project will be rooted in an understanding of individuals’ motivations for participation, striving to meet those motivations, and effectively evaluating not only the scientific outputs of the project but also whether participants’ motivations are being satisfied through participation. Using survey research, this study sought to understand how a CS project and communication of scientific topics through art and interactive methods affected participants' knowledge of North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) and their habitats, likelihood of future participation in CS, and attitudes towards the environment. Participants held baseline high pro-environmental attitudes and participation in this study did not further elevate pro-environmental attitudes. Participants' knowledge of river otters and their habitats increased slightly with supplemental science communication efforts. Participants who received supplemental science communication were slightly more likely to state an interest in future participation in citizen science, suggesting additional engagement from project leaders could increase future participation. These findings complement the growing field of citizen science and model methods for how citizen science projects can prioritize project outcomes, evaluate outcomes for participants, and consider further efforts for community engagement.
Citation Style
APA
Recommended Citation
Jewell, Karlee D., "Evaluating science communication efforts and citizen scientists' knowledge of, attitude toward, and behavioral intentions related to the North American river otter" (2022). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 571.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/571