Developing a Citizen Social Science approach to understand urban stress and promote wellbeing in urban communities

• DOI: 10.1057/s41599-020-0460-1
• Publication Date: 2020-05-06T14:04:08Z
• Authors: Jessica Pykett; Benjamin Chrisinger; Kalliopi Kyriakou; Tess Osborne; Bernd Resch; Afroditi Stathi; Eszter Toth; Anna C. Whittaker
• Keywords: Rigour; Citizen Science; Urban studies; Urban Computing

Abstract This paper sets out the future potential and challenges for developing an interdisciplinary, mixed-method Citizen Social Science approach to researching urban emotions. It focuses on stress, which is increasingly noted as a global mental health challenge facing both urbanised rapidly urbanising societies. The reviews existing use of mobile psychophysiological or biosensing within environments—as means ‘capturing’ geographies Methodological reflections are included primary research using in study workplace commuter stress university employees Birmingham (UK) Salzburg (Austria) illustrative purposes. In comparing perspectives conceptualisation measurement from psychology, neuroscience planning, difficulties defining scientific constructs discussed set groundwork fostering interdisciplinary dialogue. novel methods, geo-located sensor technologies data-driven approaches now available researchers pose number ethical, political conceptual around measuring emotions, human behaviour space. They also raise issues rigour, participation social interpretation. Introducing methods informed by more critical can temper overly individualised forms data collection establish effective ways addressing promoting wellbeing communities.