Citizen Science in Sweden’s Stigmatized Neighborhoods

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This is basically a sound, interesting, well written and documented research report. The reviewer recommends only a few minor revisions to the text that should be published basically as it is.

• In the abstract line18 “panacea” is possibly not the right word for what the authors want to express; what about something like “antidote”? Likewise, “without” line 20 should be replaced by “from the outside”
• The introduction should be recomposed; the description of the Citizen Science Method, of its application and the places where it was done in Sweden are mixed together in a sometimes puzzling way; why not describing first of all the shortcomings of usual research for policy advice that the citizens science approach tries overcome and then the essence of the citizens science approach as it tries to overcome them (the latter well done on page 2 line 87-93 and the furthermore on pp.1 and 2 line 44 to line 54 respectively); afterwards the NESLA project done in that methodical framework and finally what every reader should know about the basic national and local neighbourhood context whereto the citizen science approach has been adopted could be presented
• Under 1.3 “Theoretical Implications ” the key point and key problem of the research as it has used the citizen science method might be featured with more clarity: (i) the observations and impressions of people at a given place matter as much as what is said statistics etc. about material  and social facts in the usual kinds of social science based analysis and mapping; (ii) not just local facts and impressions count for the directions of policy making and planning but as well the “image” that gets co-produced by the various media
• On page 6 it should right away be argued that (and why) in citizen science projects a small number of active participants is seen as sufficient (just about 20!); furthermore one can not simply downplay the fact that female participants could not be won; this is really odd. Comment on this! (Perhaps football would not have been such a unique and central point if young women would have participated?
• When it comes to 3.5, The social and political impact of citizen science, and finally to the discussion under 4., perhaps something more could be said about the debates that came up at the various platforms created for the dissemination of the findings of the citizen science study of the two communities. Con something be said about the reaction of observers and especially of politicians that so far have followed a narrow law and order strategy, complemented in one of the two cases by a vague gentrification exit strategy?
• Furthermore while the four point about results and insights through the citizen science approach under 4. are clear and well taken, nothing much is said about possible improvements of the very method itself. Just as an example: while the methods for winning youngsters with their cell phones as kind of researchers is imaginative not much is said and found in this paper about ways to better the link with those public agencies that make small everyday decisions and have finally a key role for the strategy to be continued and/or changed
• Last point: perhaps less photos and documents will do it?

Nevertheless, this is a fine paper and small changes with respect to the seven points suggested will do it for an interesting publication

Author Response

"Please see the attachment"

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Drawing upon recent citizen-science literature, the paper delves in two different cases of deprived and 'stigmatized" neighborhood in Sweden getting in touch with young urban outcasts and inquiring their perceptions and perspectives using interviews and photos.

The work is well conducted, the methodology is sound, results are displayed quite clearly.

Some minor spell checks are required and the hyphens in the lines are to be erased.

Author Response

"Please see the attachment"

Author Response File: Author Response.docx