Grounding a Program Theory to Enable Authentic Inquiry Through Citizen Science

Extension programs are well-suited to provide youth & adults with exposure to science. However, designing programming to fully engage participants in deeper experience with science practice is a complicated challenge. Grounded theory is one research approach that Extension staff can use to explicate these program models. The Driven to Discover: Enabling Authentic Inquiry through Citizen Science project (D2D), funded by the National Science Foundation, demonstrates potential for using grounded theory to identify factors that provoke authentic inquiry by youth/adult research teams using citizen science experiences.