Caren B Cooper
Biographic Data
| ID | 1049196 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Caren B Cooper |
| GIVEN NAMES | Caren B |
| FAMILY NAME | Cooper |
| SIGNATURE | COOPER C B |
| AFFILIATIONS | North Carolina State University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6263-8892 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 20 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 147 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 20 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2007 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Public perceptions of anthropogenic and natural sounds: Disparities in soundscapes and corresponding sense of place
Noise pollution is an environmental stressor negatively affecting humans and biodiversity. Noise pollution is often measured and regulated according to loudness, but in this study, we assessed noise pollution based on human perceptions of soundscapes. We used the participatory science project Sound Around Town to collect data reflecting personal interpretations of soundscapes. Participants logged the perceived loudness and pleasantness of sound s…
Facilitated Citizen Science in Public Libraries as a Context for Science Socialization
Citizen science projects are widely recognized as contexts for a variety of informal science education outcomes. Much previous research on learning in citizen science has taken place in single-project contexts. However, learning is a highly individualized and contextual process that includes experiences beyond a project. We take a holistic, life-course view of learning to investigate the role facilitated citizen science experiences in public libr…
Awe in nature fosters science identity and belonging in participatory scientists during an eclipse
The interactions between people and nature are complex, with research suggesting that people often report feeling awe in nature, including in relation to eclipses. Less is known about if feelings of awe in nature can drive science outcomes. The current study aimed to understand the relationship between observing a total eclipse in nature, awe and science identity and belonging for individuals involved in a participatory science study of animal be…
Geography of race and income shape spatial data gaps in two national participatory science projects
Context and Need : Participatory projects where people contribute geo‐referenced biodiversity data, like eBird and iNaturalist, are commonly used tools to enhance the data collection capacity for research, management, and environmental learning. Despite their utility, demographic disparities in participation, demographic patterns of residential segregation, and individual choice of participation may skew data, influencing research outcomes, manag…
Equitable payments for research participation: A successful case of exceptionalism
Bélisle-Pipon et al. recently reported on challenges they encountered in adopting an equity-based rather than equality-based framework for research participation payments. We encountered a similar need in a project that developed tools and resources to support trustworthy data practices in the field of participatory science. While typical approaches employ a fairness-as-equality model, where all participants receive equal pay for equal work, we d…
A framework for contextualizing social‐ecological biases in contributory science data
Contributory science—including citizen and community science—allows scientists to leverage participant‐generated data while providing an opportunity for engaging with local community members. Data yielded by participant‐generated biodiversity platforms allow professional scientists to answer ecological and evolutionary questions across both geographic and temporal scales, which is incredibly valuable for conservation efforts. The data reported to…
Exploring Project Connections Across the Citizen Science Landscape: A Social Network Analysis of Shared Volunteers
Research on citizen science volunteers has historically focused on single projects, but emerging research suggests many volunteers engage in multiple projects. Platforms that host thousands of projects, like SciStarter.org, enable exploration of volunteer activity across multiple projects. To learn more about the phenomenon of multi-project engagement, we carried out a descriptive social network analysis using digital trace data depicting volunte…
Exploring different framings of nature-based solutions with respect to governance, and citizen participation, beneficiaries, and quality of life outcomes
Cities are increasingly looking to nature-based solutions to not only tackle climate change, and biodiversity loss, reconnect people with nature but also make just transitions to sustainability. However, some scholars argue that normative framings that drive the implementation of NBS continue to reinforce hegemonism and neoliberalise nature. Furthermore, while cities increasingly foreground climate adaptation and green growth actions in social an…
Facilitator organizations enhance learning and action through citizen science: A case study of Girl Scouts’ Think Like a Citizen Scientist journey on SciStarter
Engagement in citizen science can result in participant outcomes including increased science and environmental literacy and civic action. One factor which may increase the likelihood of these outcomes is facilitation by groups such as employers, schools, or other organizations. We examined how a partnership between SciStarter and Girl Scouts of the USA facilitated participation in citizen science to shape participants’ learning and civic engageme…
What is community-level environmental literacy, and how can we measure it? A report of a convening to conceptualize and operationalize CLEL
Environmental education research often emphasizes the importance of community context, but conceptualization and measurement of environmental literacy has mostly occurred at the individual level, often focusing on individual behaviors. The environmental problems facing the world today require collective action—communities coming together to address large-scale problems. Accordingly, understanding and encouraging collective action requires a shift…
Place-Based Pathways to Proenvironmental Behavior: Empirical Evidence for a Conservation–Recreation Model
This study expands existing models of proenvironmental behavior (PEB) to examine the potentially important and interacting influences of nature-based recreation and sense of place on participation in conservation-oriented activities. We tested hypothesized relationships using a structural equation modeling approach that accounted for common behavioral antecedents within a sample of 1,124 nature-based recreationists and property owners in rural co…
Citizen Science Terminology Matters: Exploring Key Terms
Much can be at stake depending on the choice of words used to describe citizen science, because terminology impacts how knowledge is developed. Citizen science is a quickly evolving field that is mobilizing people's involvement in information development, social action and justice, and large-scale information gathering. Currently, a wide variety of terms and expressions are being used to refer to the concept of 'citizen science' and its practitio…
Are wildlife recreationists conservationists? Linking hunting, birdwatching, and pro‐environmental behavior
There is a widely held assumption that outdoor experiences are a key precursor to pro-environmental behavior (PEB). We tested the hypothesis that wildlife recreationists are more likely than non-recreationists to voluntarily engage in different types of PEB, grouped as conservation behaviors and environmental lifestyle behaviors. Via mail and web-based surveys of rural New York residents (n = 941), we compared the self-reported PEBs of 4 types of…
Emotions as Drivers of Wildlife Stewardship Behavior: Examining Citizen Science Nest Monitors’ Responses to Invasive House Sparrows
Growing evidence suggests wildlife stewardship behaviors might be affected by emotional dispositions toward particular species. To test this hypothesis, we studied wildlife management choices made by backyard citizen scientists (N = 448) involved in two North American bird nest monitoring projects. Our exploratory study characterized nest monitors' efforts to manage invasive house sparrows, which compete with native songbirds for nesting sites, a…
Understanding the multi-dimensional structure of pro-environmental behavior
The eBird enterprise: An integrated approach to development and application of citizen science
Gender Patterns in Bird-related Recreation in the USA and UK
Recent studies show inter-related trends in both adult and youth populations in developed nations: a shift away from nature-based recreation, an overall decline in physical activity, and increasing obesity. For this study we examined gender patterns in a nature-based activity, observing wild birds, popular in two developed nations, the USA and UK. We collated data from several organizations and categorized data sources as representing activities …
Citizen Science: A Developing Tool for Expanding Science Knowledge and Scientific Literacy
Citizen science enlists the public in collecting large quantities of data across an array of habitats and locations over long spans of time. Citizen science projects have been remarkably successful in advancing scientific knowledge, and contributions from citizen scientists now provide a vast quantity of data about species occurrence and distribution around the world. Most citizen science projects also strive to help participants learn about the …
Science Explicitly for Nonscientists
Citizen Science as a Tool for Conservation in Residential Ecosystems
Cooper, C. B., J. Dickinson, T. Phillips, and R. Bonney. 2007. Citizen science as a tool for conservation in residential ecosystems. Ecology and Society 12(2): 11. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-02197-120211
Understanding the multi-dimensional structure of pro-environmental behavior
Citizen Science Terminology Matters: Exploring Key Terms
Much can be at stake depending on the choice of words used to describe citizen science, because terminology impacts how knowledge is developed. Citizen science is a quickly evolving field that is mobilizing people's involvement in information development, social action and justice, and large-scale information gathering. Currently, a wide variety of terms and expressions are being used to refer to the concept of 'citizen science' and its practitio…
Citizen Science as a Tool for Conservation in Residential Ecosystems
Cooper, C. B., J. Dickinson, T. Phillips, and R. Bonney. 2007. Citizen science as a tool for conservation in residential ecosystems. Ecology and Society 12(2): 11. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-02197-120211
Place-Based Pathways to Proenvironmental Behavior: Empirical Evidence for a Conservation–Recreation Model
This study expands existing models of proenvironmental behavior (PEB) to examine the potentially important and interacting influences of nature-based recreation and sense of place on participation in conservation-oriented activities. We tested hypothesized relationships using a structural equation modeling approach that accounted for common behavioral antecedents within a sample of 1,124 nature-based recreationists and property owners in rural co…
What is community-level environmental literacy, and how can we measure it? A report of a convening to conceptualize and operationalize CLEL
Environmental education research often emphasizes the importance of community context, but conceptualization and measurement of environmental literacy has mostly occurred at the individual level, often focusing on individual behaviors. The environmental problems facing the world today require collective action—communities coming together to address large-scale problems. Accordingly, understanding and encouraging collective action requires a shift…
Gender Patterns in Bird-related Recreation in the USA and UK
Recent studies show inter-related trends in both adult and youth populations in developed nations: a shift away from nature-based recreation, an overall decline in physical activity, and increasing obesity. For this study we examined gender patterns in a nature-based activity, observing wild birds, popular in two developed nations, the USA and UK. We collated data from several organizations and categorized data sources as representing activities …
Citizen Science as a Tool for Conservation in Residential Ecosystems
Cooper, C. B., J. Dickinson, T. Phillips, and R. Bonney. 2007. Citizen science as a tool for conservation in residential ecosystems. Ecology and Society 12(2): 11. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-02197-120211
Science Explicitly for Nonscientists
Citizen Science: A Developing Tool for Expanding Science Knowledge and Scientific Literacy
Citizen science enlists the public in collecting large quantities of data across an array of habitats and locations over long spans of time. Citizen science projects have been remarkably successful in advancing scientific knowledge, and contributions from citizen scientists now provide a vast quantity of data about species occurrence and distribution around the world. Most citizen science projects also strive to help participants learn about the …
Gender Patterns in Bird-related Recreation in the USA and UK
Recent studies show inter-related trends in both adult and youth populations in developed nations: a shift away from nature-based recreation, an overall decline in physical activity, and increasing obesity. For this study we examined gender patterns in a nature-based activity, observing wild birds, popular in two developed nations, the USA and UK. We collated data from several organizations and categorized data sources as representing activities …
The eBird enterprise: An integrated approach to development and application of citizen science
Are wildlife recreationists conservationists? Linking hunting, birdwatching, and pro‐environmental behavior
There is a widely held assumption that outdoor experiences are a key precursor to pro-environmental behavior (PEB). We tested the hypothesis that wildlife recreationists are more likely than non-recreationists to voluntarily engage in different types of PEB, grouped as conservation behaviors and environmental lifestyle behaviors. Via mail and web-based surveys of rural New York residents (n = 941), we compared the self-reported PEBs of 4 types of…
Emotions as Drivers of Wildlife Stewardship Behavior: Examining Citizen Science Nest Monitors’ Responses to Invasive House Sparrows
Growing evidence suggests wildlife stewardship behaviors might be affected by emotional dispositions toward particular species. To test this hypothesis, we studied wildlife management choices made by backyard citizen scientists (N = 448) involved in two North American bird nest monitoring projects. Our exploratory study characterized nest monitors' efforts to manage invasive house sparrows, which compete with native songbirds for nesting sites, a…
Understanding the multi-dimensional structure of pro-environmental behavior
Citizen Science Terminology Matters: Exploring Key Terms
Much can be at stake depending on the choice of words used to describe citizen science, because terminology impacts how knowledge is developed. Citizen science is a quickly evolving field that is mobilizing people's involvement in information development, social action and justice, and large-scale information gathering. Currently, a wide variety of terms and expressions are being used to refer to the concept of 'citizen science' and its practitio…
Place-Based Pathways to Proenvironmental Behavior: Empirical Evidence for a Conservation–Recreation Model
This study expands existing models of proenvironmental behavior (PEB) to examine the potentially important and interacting influences of nature-based recreation and sense of place on participation in conservation-oriented activities. We tested hypothesized relationships using a structural equation modeling approach that accounted for common behavioral antecedents within a sample of 1,124 nature-based recreationists and property owners in rural co…
What is community-level environmental literacy, and how can we measure it? A report of a convening to conceptualize and operationalize CLEL
Environmental education research often emphasizes the importance of community context, but conceptualization and measurement of environmental literacy has mostly occurred at the individual level, often focusing on individual behaviors. The environmental problems facing the world today require collective action—communities coming together to address large-scale problems. Accordingly, understanding and encouraging collective action requires a shift…
Exploring different framings of nature-based solutions with respect to governance, and citizen participation, beneficiaries, and quality of life outcomes
Cities are increasingly looking to nature-based solutions to not only tackle climate change, and biodiversity loss, reconnect people with nature but also make just transitions to sustainability. However, some scholars argue that normative framings that drive the implementation of NBS continue to reinforce hegemonism and neoliberalise nature. Furthermore, while cities increasingly foreground climate adaptation and green growth actions in social an…
Facilitator organizations enhance learning and action through citizen science: A case study of Girl Scouts’ Think Like a Citizen Scientist journey on SciStarter
Engagement in citizen science can result in participant outcomes including increased science and environmental literacy and civic action. One factor which may increase the likelihood of these outcomes is facilitation by groups such as employers, schools, or other organizations. We examined how a partnership between SciStarter and Girl Scouts of the USA facilitated participation in citizen science to shape participants’ learning and civic engageme…
A framework for contextualizing social‐ecological biases in contributory science data
Contributory science—including citizen and community science—allows scientists to leverage participant‐generated data while providing an opportunity for engaging with local community members. Data yielded by participant‐generated biodiversity platforms allow professional scientists to answer ecological and evolutionary questions across both geographic and temporal scales, which is incredibly valuable for conservation efforts. The data reported to…
Exploring Project Connections Across the Citizen Science Landscape: A Social Network Analysis of Shared Volunteers
Research on citizen science volunteers has historically focused on single projects, but emerging research suggests many volunteers engage in multiple projects. Platforms that host thousands of projects, like SciStarter.org, enable exploration of volunteer activity across multiple projects. To learn more about the phenomenon of multi-project engagement, we carried out a descriptive social network analysis using digital trace data depicting volunte…
Equitable payments for research participation: A successful case of exceptionalism
Bélisle-Pipon et al. recently reported on challenges they encountered in adopting an equity-based rather than equality-based framework for research participation payments. We encountered a similar need in a project that developed tools and resources to support trustworthy data practices in the field of participatory science. While typical approaches employ a fairness-as-equality model, where all participants receive equal pay for equal work, we d…
Public perceptions of anthropogenic and natural sounds: Disparities in soundscapes and corresponding sense of place
Noise pollution is an environmental stressor negatively affecting humans and biodiversity. Noise pollution is often measured and regulated according to loudness, but in this study, we assessed noise pollution based on human perceptions of soundscapes. We used the participatory science project Sound Around Town to collect data reflecting personal interpretations of soundscapes. Participants logged the perceived loudness and pleasantness of sound s…
Facilitated Citizen Science in Public Libraries as a Context for Science Socialization
Citizen science projects are widely recognized as contexts for a variety of informal science education outcomes. Much previous research on learning in citizen science has taken place in single-project contexts. However, learning is a highly individualized and contextual process that includes experiences beyond a project. We take a holistic, life-course view of learning to investigate the role facilitated citizen science experiences in public libr…
Awe in nature fosters science identity and belonging in participatory scientists during an eclipse
The interactions between people and nature are complex, with research suggesting that people often report feeling awe in nature, including in relation to eclipses. Less is known about if feelings of awe in nature can drive science outcomes. The current study aimed to understand the relationship between observing a total eclipse in nature, awe and science identity and belonging for individuals involved in a participatory science study of animal be…
Geography of race and income shape spatial data gaps in two national participatory science projects
Context and Need : Participatory projects where people contribute geo‐referenced biodiversity data, like eBird and iNaturalist, are commonly used tools to enhance the data collection capacity for research, management, and environmental learning. Despite their utility, demographic disparities in participation, demographic patterns of residential segregation, and individual choice of participation may skew data, influencing research outcomes, manag…
Citizen science (11 works) · Species Distribution and Climate Change (9 works) · Political science (8 works) · Animal and Plant Science Education (7 works) · Biology (7 works) · Geography (7 works) · Computer Science (6 works) · Sociology (6 works) · Environmental resource management (5 works) · Ecology (4 works)