Efficacy is described as the belief that one has that one can execute the action required to produce given attainments. In this context, political and scientific efficacy is assessed as the perceived competence to engage and contribute to scientific research and political activities

Efficacy(Citizen Science in Schools: Predictors and Outcomes of Participating in Voluntary Political Research)

 External reward motivation is defined as the extent to which students participate to win citizen science awards; this may play a role in stimulating citizen science participation. 

External Reward Motivation

It was found that certain groups of students were more likely to participate in citizen science, and said participation did positively impact the student’s scientific attitudes. However, there was a correlation between non-participation and negative scientific attitudes. Students were more likely to participate in citizen science projects if they were motivated by learning and had higher interests in science and politics. 


Participation and Scientific Attitudes 

Females were more likely to be motivated by learning and thus were more likely to participate. This corroborates past research, demonstrating that females are more intrinsically motivated and self-determined to succeed in education and thus participate in voluntary educational activity. 

Gender and Participation in Citizen Science 

 This study explored the predictors and outcomes of youth participation in citizen science. Past research has found a link between young people’s scientific attitudes and their scientific engagement. Three critical aspects of attitudes are interest, efficiency, and motivation.

State University of New York at Stony Brook

Studies have shown that there have been positive educational outcomes because of youth participation in citizen science. As a result, educators want to promote citizen science projects in the educational system. This study took place in an Austrian school where students participated in projects that dissected what kinds of political topics young people encounter in their everyday lives. 

Citizen Science in Schools

Heiss, Raffael, et al. “Citizen Science in Schools: Predictors and Outcomes of Participating in Voluntary Political Research.” SAGE Open, Oct. 2021, doi:10.1177/21582440211016428.

Citizen Science in Schools: Predictors and Outcomes of Participating in Voluntary Political Research

Participation in the project increased political efficacy but not scientific efficacy. This might be due to the fact that students only contributed to the data collection, which is only a small sect of the scientific process. 

Efficacy and Participation

Students who participated developed a higher interest in science and politics. Interest is a key antecedent of learning motivation and thus is an essential factor for future scientific participation.

Interest and Participation

Citizen science is a critical approach for encouraging scientific enthusiasm in schools. To increase the likelihood of participation, the topics students engage with should align with their interests. Additionally, involving the entire class can help motivate students who initially have low scientific involvement.

Implementing Citizen Science in Schools

Vitone, T., Stofer, K. A., Steininger, M. S., Hulcr, J., Dunn, R., & Lucky, A. (2016). School of Ants goes to college: integrating citizen science into the general education classroom increases engagement with science. Journal of Science Communication, 15(1), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.22323/2.15010203

School of Ants goes to college: integrating citizen science into the general education classroom increases engagement with science

financial costs in this project were eliminated by implementing the citizen science into the school curriculum and using equipment that was on the school site 

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