The characteristics of completed healthcare citizen-science projects hosted on Zooniverse
| Citizen-science project | Main purpose | Approach | Mechanisms | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cell Slider | Analysing tissue samples and cells to determine the number and the type of ill cells | Crowdsourcing: lay people classify cells' images, following standard guidelines and protocols designed by expert scientists | Hard mechanisms aimed at standardizing lay people contribution in classification activities and at training them. Limited use of soft mechanisms to ensure lay people engagement and retention | Nimble and effective analysis of large amount of data, accompanied by savings of expert scientists' time and resources. Training of automated algorithms and machine learning tools to foster big data analytics |
| Etch a Cell | Segmenting cells and obtaining information about the structures that make up molecules, cells and tissues | Crowdsourcing: lay people autonomously analyze cells' images, segmenting their nucleus according to prescriptions and guidelines asynchronously provided by expert scientists | Hard mechanisms aimed at training lay people and at formalizing their tasks. Formalization of communication and information exchanges between expert scientists and lay people. Soft mechanisms intended to motivate lay people and sustaining their engagement in citizen science projects | Processing of large amounts of data. Training of deep learning tools to enhance big data analytics. Lay people's engagement in scientific research and acknowledgement of their formal contribution to the achievement of research aims |
| Where are my body organs? | Collecting evidence about the anatomical knowledge of the general public and about socio-demographic and cultural factors influencing individual anatomical knowledge | Crowdsourcing: lay people self-appraise their knowledge by undertaking a quiz about anatomy | Predominantly hard mechanisms, intended to formalize and routinize the exchanges between lay people and expert scientists and standardizing the process of data collection | Construction of a large dataset to conduct scientific research. Promotion of public education about anatomy |
| Citizen-science project | Main purpose | Approach | Mechanisms | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cell Slider | Analysing tissue samples and cells to determine the number and the type of ill cells | Crowdsourcing: lay people classify cells' images, following standard guidelines and protocols designed by expert scientists | Hard mechanisms aimed at standardizing lay people contribution in classification activities and at training them. Limited use of soft mechanisms to ensure lay people engagement and retention | Nimble and effective analysis of large amount of data, accompanied by savings of expert scientists' time and resources. Training of automated algorithms and machine learning tools to foster big data analytics |
| Etch a Cell | Segmenting cells and obtaining information about the structures that make up molecules, cells and tissues | Crowdsourcing: lay people autonomously analyze cells' images, segmenting their nucleus according to prescriptions and guidelines asynchronously provided by expert scientists | Hard mechanisms aimed at training lay people and at formalizing their tasks. Formalization of communication and information exchanges between expert scientists and lay people. Soft mechanisms intended to motivate lay people and sustaining their engagement in citizen science projects | Processing of large amounts of data. Training of deep learning tools to enhance big data analytics. Lay people's engagement in scientific research and acknowledgement of their formal contribution to the achievement of research aims |
| Where are my body organs? | Collecting evidence about the anatomical knowledge of the general public and about socio-demographic and cultural factors influencing individual anatomical knowledge | Crowdsourcing: lay people self-appraise their knowledge by undertaking a quiz about anatomy | Predominantly hard mechanisms, intended to formalize and routinize the exchanges between lay people and expert scientists and standardizing the process of data collection | Construction of a large dataset to conduct scientific research. Promotion of public education about anatomy |