Understanding the relational nature of citizen science: Insights from FrogID

  • Author(s)
    Maureen Thompson
  • Category
    AMRI
  • Published
    28 October 2024
  • Read time
    2 minutes

Agential realism explains how citizen science programs like FrogID go beyond data collection. It acknowledges the interconnectedness of all entities - human and non-human - and encourages a holistic approach to biodiversity conservation based on mutual accountability.

Agential realism: A new perspective

Traditional citizen science views participants as separate from their observations (e.g. a person recording a frog), aiming for objective data collection. But a philosophical perspective called ‘agential realism’ sees all entities—humans, animals, technology—as interconnected. This interconnectedness, or "intra-action," shapes our experiences and the data we collect.

Recently, Katie Moon and colleagues used agential realism to think about what happens when people use FrogID – an app where participants record frog calls and contribute to a national database for frog conservation. With over 42,000 participants and over a million frog records, FrogID offers rich insights into citizen science's relational aspects.

Intra-action and engagement

According to agential realism, citizen science observations are influenced by how everything involved (the observer's senses, their behaviour, their technology, the environment) ‘intra-acts’. These intra-actions affect participant engagement, as we found when we interviewed people about using FrogID.

For instance, some FrogID participants deepen their engagement with the nocturnal environment and become more attuned to auditory cues, fostering a richer understanding of ecological relationships. One interviewee said, about listening for frogs:

it gives it a kind of layer where you understand more about the environment you’re in, when you can hear frog calls or bird calls. And just from hearing them, you know what animal that is, you don’t have to see them or lay eyes on them, you kind of have a sense of you know, this layering of stuff, living things that are out there. And I think it makes life more interesting to know that.
The relational framework used to guide the FrogID interviews.
The relational framework used to guide the interviews. Shifting from an objectivist to a relational philosophical framing, we asked FrogID users about the ways in which engagement with the app had created or influenced four broad relationships: relationships with self, with others, with frogs, and with nature. We anticipated intra-actions between these relationships. Image: -
© Moon et al. 2024

Mattering, meaning, and what comes to matter

Agential realism challenges the idea of an observer and an observed as separate; instead, together they create what comes to ‘matter’ (because the things that get recorded are the things we paid attention to). Participants' motivations and the feedback they receive shape what data they choose to record and submit. One interviewee said:

“I think my turning point was that feedback. ...So the app itself gives you an idea of how many species it might have been. But it’s not until I got that [human validator] engagement that I really went, hey, this is an actual thing.”

Another person talked about the ‘dopamine hit’ of recording a rare frog and getting praise from validators. Social networks, family and friends, and personal well-being significantly influence engagement. FrogID participants' contributions are shaped by these interactions, affecting their identities and relationships with nature. Many reported personal benefits, such as improved mental well-being, joy, and relaxation. Participants found new purpose and connections, discovering nocturnal habitats and feeling a renewed sense of contribution and belonging.

Responsibility

Agential realism emphasises accountability for what becomes real or meaningful, including how our actions (like recording frogs) impact our understanding of nature.

In citizen science, this means participants influence data and ecological awareness, extending responsibility beyond data collection to active conservation and knowledge sharing. Some people told us about how they now do things differently on their land or in the local neighbourhood, as a result of learning more about frogs. By participating in FrogID, participants shape scientific knowledge and public awareness of biodiversity, fostering ethical and sustainable relationships with the natural world and promoting conservation practices.

Sample of FrogID interface and feedback from FrogID team
(A) – Sample of FrogID app interface showing frog species verification; (B) – Feedback from the Australian Museum FrogID Team. Image: Nadiah Roslan
© Australian Museum

Conclusion

Participants of FrogID not only gather valuable scientific data, but enrich their lives through meaningful connections, empowering them to contribute to environmental stewardship and appreciate the complexities of the natural world.

For organisers, thinking in this relational way can help them understand how to improve participation, retention, and data quality. Embracing this perspective can lead to a more just and connected world, where citizen science advances knowledge and fosters a deeper connection between people and nature.

Maureen Thompson, Beaver Works Oregon Program Manager, Think Wild, Bend, Oregon, USA.

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