How Citizen Scientists Are Shaping the Science of Kindness
No lab coat or PhD required.
Over the past year and a half, we’ve reviewed the existing kindness literature, conducted and funded studies, and interviewed people from around the world. We’ve learned that kindness has a significant effect on increasing happiness, and that knowledge gives us the power to create positive change.
We’ve also learned just how much we don’t know about kindness:
Are there differences in how we perceive and experience kindness by place, age, or gender? How do kind acts affect the people who witness them? How can we bring kindness into our public and private institutions in a way that has the maximum impact?
These are all great questions that deserve answers. And the world deserves these answers as quickly as possible.
That’s where Citizen Scientists play an important role. We’re enlisting empowered citizens as part of kindlabIRL to do observational research on kindness in their own communities. No labs, no science degrees, just real life stories and experiences.
For the birds: the origin of Citizen Science
Nearly every person sees birds on a regular basis—in their backyard, the park, or on their way to work or school. Early last century, the National Audubon Society published a call in a newspaper for the “Christmas Bird Count.” Everyday people were asked to act as Citizen Scientists, counting birds in their backyards on Christmas day and reporting back with the numbers and species.
Though most didn’t have science degrees, they were able to help with research and collected far more census data than the Audubon Society could have on their own. With the dedication of 27 Citizen Scientists, 90 species were recorded in locations across Canada and the United States. Now, tens of thousands of North American birders participate in the count each year, providing valuable data to aid in the conservation of birds and their habitats.
The Christmas Bird Count started a revolution in Citizen Science. Today organizations like NASA, National Geographic and the United Nations crowdsource data based on this model to make a larger impact, faster.
The role of Citizen Scientists in kindness research
There’s no better choice to study kindness within communities than the people who are actually in them. Like birds, kindness is all around us—and takes many shapes and forms. We know that each person has unique and interesting insights into kindness, so with every new voice comes the potential to discover something new.
Our research aims to uncover the best ways to elicit behavior change in communities around the world, but we can’t achieve large scale success without assistance. Citizen Scientists allow us to get beyond the lab, break the digital divide, and hear stories from the people who actually live them. There’s strength in numbers, and together we have the power to report real-time information from diverse locations.
Kindness within the workplace and the homeless community
We launched our Citizen Scientist program this fall with a focus on how kindness is defined within the workplace and for people experiencing homelessness.
What makes a kind manager? How is a kind workplace built and fostered?
What is the importance of kindness for people experiencing homelessness? What can we do to create kinder, and safer, environments?
These are just some of the questions we are exploring with our first group of over 100 volunteers. The answers to these questions from voices around the globe will help us understand how to create positive change and a lasting impact.
Want to add your inquiring mind to our Citizen Scientist team? We’d love to hear from you.
