Social Citizen Science and Social Reflexivity

This paper proposes a literature review searching for the relation between social citizen science and social reflexivity. It analyses the development of citizen science and particularly social citizen science in the light of sociocybernetic concepts, particularly social reflexivity and second order observation. The paper presents in the second part, a methodological development based in social diagnosis applied to projects linked to social development.

Citizen science, is a collaborative process where volunteers partner with scientists to conduct and develop research. We look to discuss how such processes lead to group and community empowerment. Particularly attention is given to the challenges and dilemmas at a methodological level as citizen-science is principally inter and transdisciplinary, engaging different levels of practical and theoretical knowledge, scientific debate co-desing and co-decision.

Embracing and investing in citizen science is not only a strategic move for advancing scientific knowledge but also a vital step towards achieving justice and sustainability in the face of global change. Social citizen science goes into the path of participatory action research and other methodologies that promote reflexivity in the research design, process and results.