Data Ethics for Practitioners

Skills and Competencies

The recipient of this certification has demonstrated the following data ethics skills and obtained a score of 80% or better via traditional, online assessment:

• Distinguish roles and ethical obligations of project leaders, participants, and partners in participatory science projects.

• Identify how ethical tensions arise in participatory science projects.

• Recognize the obligations associated with ethical principles in the context of participatory science projects.

• Analyze ethical tensions related to data integrity, report-outs, recompense, and report-backs in participatory science projects.

• Recognize how data governance structures can concentrate or diffuse decision-making power.

Research

Additional publications produced as a result of Grant No. 1835352, “Establishing Norms of Data Ethics in Citizen Science”

• Cooper, Caren B. and Rasmussen, Lisa M. and Jones, Elizabeth D. "Perspective: The Power (Dynamics) of Open Data in Citizen Science" Frontiers in Climate , v.3 , 2021 https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2021.637037, Citation Details

• de Sherbinin, Alex and Bowser, Anne and Chuang, Tyng-Ruey and Cooper, Caren and Danielsen, Finn and Edmunds, Rorie and Elias, Peter and Faustman, Elaine and Hultquist, Carolynne and Mondardini, Rosy and Popescu, Ioana and Shonowo, Adenike and Sivakumar, K "The Critical Importance of Citizen Science Data" Frontiers in Climate , v.3 , 2021 https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2021.650760, Citation Details

• Cooper, Caren and Shanley, Lea and Scassa, Teresa and Vayena, Effy "Project Categories to Guide Institutional Oversight of Responsible Conduct of Scientists Leading Citizen Science in the United States" Citizen Science: Theory and Practice , v.4 , 2019 http://dx.doi.org/10.5334/cstp.202, Citation Details

What is the Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences (AAPS)?

The Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences (AAPS) is a member-driven organization that connects people from a wide range of experiences around one shared purpose: advancing knowledge through research and monitoring done by, for, and with members of the public.

Citizen science – the most recognizable term for this practice – is expanding the reach, relevance, and impact of science in almost every area of inquiry; in the field and online; through local and global efforts. With increased attention to citizen science, AAPS brings depth to how citizen science is understood both as public engagement and as research, and shines a light on the integrity and complexity of the practice.

Visit https://participatorysciences.org/about/ to learn more.

Earn the Data Ethics for Practitioners badge

The Data Ethics for Practitioners badge helps you “think like an ethicist” - by identifying relevant ethical obligations, tensions, and issues that may arise in your project, and use them to make decisions.

This material is based upon input from over 100 individuals so that it reflects both areas of broad agreement and areas of divergent priorities and values. The work was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. Cooper & Rasmussen # 1835352, “Establishing Norms of Data Ethics in Citizen Science.”

Resources were developed and field tested by a team with expertise in instructional design, education, libraries, inclusive practices, digital design, micro accreditation, and, of course, citizen science to produce a series of tutorials, trainings, and accompanying modules to help people from all walks of life discover and engage in authentic science.

Visit https://scistarter.org/training-dataethics to learn more about earning this badge.

What is SciStarter?

SciStarter is a globally acclaimed, online citizen science hub where millions of people connect with thousands of scientific research projects in need of their help.

SciStarter is supported by the National Science Foundation, NASA, the National Library of Medicine, the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Verizon, the Girl Scouts of the USA and others seeking to support and sustain engagement in science, catalyze customized experiences and pathways, track progress and measure collective impact among their communities.

SciStarter is a research affiliate of Arizona State University and North Carolina State University.

Visit https://scistarter.org/ to learn more.