Instructions

How to use the content on this wiki

We are glad you are here! Thank you for being part of this project and for your valued contribution.

Our content users hope to narrow the gap between their research (basic or applied) and solutions to the serious challenges society faces under rapidly changing environmental conditions. Concept and toolkit topics are structured to help both learn and apply the information shared. The authors of all content are experts in participatory research and stakeholder engagement who can be contacted for future collaboration.

The lowest level module of content in this wiki is called a “topic”. When new topics are added they are classified by the contributing author in one of two categories:

  • Topics that underpin the practice of participatory research and stakeholder engagement such as conceptual frameworks and theories are included under the category Concepts.
  • Topics about specific participatory tools, techniques, methods, approaches and protocols are included under the category Toolkit.

These topics can be used in combination at a higher level, such as components of a research protocol or training program.

Users can:

  • Read any materials available on this wiki.
  • Share – copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
  • Adapt – remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
    • For individual topics, this might involve customizing a fact sheet or handout for a meeting or training program.
    • For multiple topics, it might mean incorporating the content into something larger like a training program, a training video, a planning, implementation or evaluation processes, or a participatory research protocol).
    • All content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.

Find appropriate content

thumbnail_of_modularity.jpg

The content in this wiki is designed to be modular to facilitate finding what is needed and assembling elements for something larger than one topic.

  • Browse Concepts and Toolkit topics directly from the menu at the top of each page.
  • Find related topics through links provided towards the bottom of each page.
  • Find all topics associated with a specific keyword though the tags at the bottom of each page.
  • Search for content using the search bar at the top of each page. Here is a diagram of how we have attempted to make the wiki content more modular and easier to connect.

Before starting to use this wiki, please read the Terms of Service.

Find potential collaborators

  • Browse the list of experts who have contributed the content of the wiki for potential collaborators on future projects.

How to contribute content to this wiki

Contributors have experience in conducting participatory research and stakeholder engagement activities, and are motivated to create wiki content making concepts and tools more accessible.

  • Anyone is free to use the Tools for Participatory Science wiki (no account is necessary).
  • However, to add and edit content in, an account is necessary.
    • Have an email invitation? Use the link provided in that email to create an account.
    • Have not yet received an invitation? Please Contact Us for an invitation by email. (Please mention any expertise in participatory research and stakeholder engagement.)
  • Next step is to log in (upper right corner of the page) and start adding new content or improving what is already there!
    • From Add Content on the menu, select either Concepts or Toolkit.
    • Partially finished pages can be saved and completed later if needed.

Contribute a new topic

  • Before adding new content, please read the Terms of Service.
  • Target audience? Earth and environmental scientists seeking to understand how participation can lead to the broader impact of science.
  • Step 1: Decide whether this is a Concept or this is a tool, technique, method or protocol that can be added to the Toolkit.
  • Step 2: Check to be sure the proposed topic is not already in the wiki by browsing the list of current topics in the menu under Concepts and Toolkit.
    • If it does exist, but can be improved, see how below.
    • If it does not exist, go to "Add content" on the menu and select "Create a page".
    • Choose the appropriate data entry form among two options "Contribute a new concept" or "Contribute a new topic to the toolkit".
    • Type a concise but clear title for the new topic and click the button. This will open the form to add new content.
  • Step 3a: Fill in the form directly.
  • Step 3b: Sometimes it is easier to write in a word processor first and then paste text into an online form.
  • Fill in the template offline and then copy and paste the appropriate text into data entry form fields. (Please do not format the text in any way.)
  • Additional tips:
    • Guidance: The "hint" text in most of the form fields are suggestions to help make contributions consistent.
    • Original words: Please do not copy and paste directly from any other source (use your own words).
    • Supplementary materials? Some topics may require more detail than is suggested by the data entry form. In those cases where supplementary materials can be shared, please provide a succinct summary of the topic in the form fields and then upload the supplementary files. NB: All supplementary materials published to this wiki must be freely sharable or have the proper permissions to be reproduced here.
    • Can fields be left blank? Yes, for example, in cases where the scope of the topic is relatively limited (e.g. an important definition).
    • Special symbols: As with other plain text transmissions, such as e-mail, use of special symbols is restricted. Most keyboard symbols will work, such as (^) for superscript. But, for example, symbols for Greek letters, will not work. These can be spelled out (e.g. gamma), or if used repeatedly, re-define the symbol (e.g. G = gamma) the first time used (similar to an abbreviation or acronym).
    • Footnotes/References: There is a field for references towards the bottom of the data entry form. But at this time there is no automated method for footnotes. Please use a manual approach, placing the footnote and number in square brackets where the footnote is required, like this:

The Sun is very big [1], but the Moon is not so big [2].

Then in the references data entry field, provide the full citation and number them accordingly:

1. Brown, R. 2006. Size of the Moon. Scientific American 51(78)12-35. doi:10.9036/scientificamerican4013-6.
2. Ruiz, E. 2005. The Sun. Academic Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

* Finished? Click the ";Save" at the bottom of the page.
* Need to start over? Click the "Cancel" button at the bottom of the page.

Modify/edit a topic

  • Any topic can be improved!
    • Before editing content, please read the Terms of Service.
    • There is an "Edit" link on the bottom of each page which opens up the editor.
    • Edit text and/or add references, images, text or upload a file to an existing page.
    • Finished? Click the "Save" at the bottom of the page.
    • Need to start over? Click the "Cancel" button at the bottom of the page.
  • Target audience? Earth and environmental scientists seeking to understand how participation can lead to the broader impact of science.

Suggest a "related topic"; or a keyword/tag

  • Currently related topic links and tags are being added by wiki moderators. Suggestions? Send them via the Contact Us page (and include the URL of the page you are working on).
Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License