3 research outputs found
Crowdsourced science: sociotechnical epistemology in the e-research paradigm
Recent years have seen a surge in online collaboration between experts
and amateurs on scientific research. In this article, we analyse the epistemological implications of these crowdsourced projects, with a focus on Zooniverse, the
world’s largest citizen science web portal. We use quantitative methods to evaluate
the platform’s success in producing large volumes of observation statements and high
impact scientific discoveries relative to more conventional means of data processing. Through empirical evidence, Bayesian reasoning, and conceptual analysis, we
show how information and communication technologies enhance the reliability, scalability, and connectivity of crowdsourced e-research, giving online citizen science
projects powerful epistemic advantages over more traditional modes of scientific
investigation. These results highlight the essential role played by technologically
mediated social interaction in contemporary knowledge production. We conclude by
calling for an explicitly sociotechnical turn in the philosophy of science that combines insights from statistics and logic to analyse the latest developments in scientific
research