Table 1. A taxonomy of citizen sensors (taken from Coleman et al. 2009, 2010).
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Category |
Characteristics |
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Neophyte |
Someone with no formal background in a subject but possessing the
interest, time, and willingness to offer an opinion on that subject |
Interested amateur |
Someone who has "discovered" interest in a subject, begun reading the
background literature, consulted with other colleagues and experts about
specific issues, is experimenting with its application, and is gaining
experience in appreciating the subject |
Expert amateur |
Someone who may know a great deal about a subject, practices it
passionately on occasion, but still does not rely on it for a living |
Expert professional |
Someone who has studied and practices a subject, relies on that
knowledge for a living, and may be sued if his/her products, opinions, and/or
recommendations are proven inadequate, incorrect, or libelous |
Expert authority |
Someone who has widely studied and long practiced a subject to the point
that he/she is recognized to possess an established record of providing
high-quality products and services and/or well-informed opinions, and stands
to lose that reputation and perhaps his/her livelihood if that credibility is
lost even temporarily |
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