Evaluation of the social impact of scientific research

Main Article Content

Ramón Flecha García

Abstract

The Social Sciences have had an important role in contributing to the betterment of society ever since they were first conceived. Social research, on the other hand, has not always been as successful. The scientific community today is creating a framework in order to revive its original premise, social impact, and trying to contribute to the search for answers to the needs of citizens through the use of science. The European Research Framework Programs present the main challenges for European society, and the sponsored projects are required to present solutions. Already in the drafting process of the projects, researchers are challenged to anticipate this impact. The following article describes the debate on the social impact of science, and provides guidance for the elaboration of research projects with an increased impact; an impact that society is hoping for and demanding from the social sciences for the benefit of humankind.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

How to Cite
Flecha García, R. (2018). Evaluation of the social impact of scientific research. Revista De Fomento Social, (291-292), 585–502. https://doi.org/10.32418/rfs.2019.291-292.1514
Section
Studies

References

ARCHICK, K. (2017) The European Union: Current Challenges and Future Prospects. Congressional research service Report. Retrieved from: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R44249.pdf

BASTOS, M.T., RAIMUNDO, R., y TRAVITZKI, R. (2013) Gatekeeping Twitter: Message Diffusion in Political Hashtags. Media, Culture & Society, 35(2), 260–270.

CABRÉ OLIVÉ, J., FLECHA GARCÍA, R., IONESCU, V., PULIDO, C., y SORDÉ–MARTÍ, T. (2017) Identifying the Relevance of Research Goals through Collecting Citizens’ Voices on Social Media. International and Multidisciplinary Journal of Social Sciences, 6(1), 70–102. doi: 10.17583/rimcis.2017.2652

ELSTER, J. (1998) Deliberative Democracy, Cambridge University Press.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2015) Horizon 2020 indicators. Assessing the results and impact of Horizon 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.ffg.at/sites/default/files/downloads/page/horizon2020indicators.pdf (accessed April 25, 2017)

FLECHA, R., SOLER–GALLART, M., y SORDÉ, T. (2015) “Social impact: Europe must fund social sciences”. Nature, 528 (7581), 193–193. http://doi.org/10.1038/528193d

GILES, J. (2005) “Internet encyclopaedias go head to head”. Nature, 438, 900–901 doi: 10.1038/438900ª Available at: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v438/n7070/full/438900a.html?foxtrotcallback=true

HABERMAS, J. (1987) The theory of communicative action. V. 2. Lifeworld and system: A critique of functionalist reason. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.

HUSSERL, E. (2010) La crisis de las ciencias europeas y la fenomenología trascendental. Buenos Aires: Prometeo libros. ISBN: 9789875742741.

IMPACT–EV CONSORTIUM (2015) Policy Brief on SSH Research Impact Assessment. Retrieved from: http://impact–ev.eu/wp–content/uploads/2016/01/policy-brief_v311215_19_b.pdf (accessed April 26, 2017).

PUIGVERT, L., CHRISTOU, M., y HOLFORD, J. (2012) “Critical Communicative Methodology: including vulnerable voices in research through dialogue”. Cambridge Journal of Education, 42(4), 513–526. http://doi.org/10.1080/0305764X.2012.733341

REALE, E., AVRAMOV, D., CANHIAL, K., DONOVAN, C., FLECHA, R., HOLM, P., LARKIN, C., LEPORI, B., MOSONI–FRIED, J., OLIVER, E., PRIMERI, E., PUIGVERT, L., SCHARNHORST, A., SCHUBERT, A., SOLER, M., SOÒS, S., SORDÉ, T., TRAVIS, C., y VAN HORIK, R. (2017) “A review of literature on evaluating the scientific, social and political impact of social sciences and humanities research”. Research Evaluation, rvx025. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/reseval/rvx025

SEN, A. (1977) “Rational Fools: A Critique of the Behavioral Foundations of Economic Theory”. Philosophy & Public Affairs, 6(4), 317–344.

SOLER–GALLART, M. (2017) Achieving Social Impact. Sociology in the Public Sphere. Springer Briefs in Sociology. Springer International Publishing AG. ISSN: 2212–6368.

WEBER, M. (1922) Economy and Society. University of California Press.