You‘re about to design a research policy. The policy should increase the societal impact of research in your country and globally.
This thinking game is to navigate you. Plan your policy by choosing from any option. We will challenge you and comment on your choices and their potential consequences. In the end, you’ll get a summary of your decisions and more hints to further think about societal impact. Isn’t that great?
Interested in reading about our case study of the UK Research Excellence Framework or the Australian Engagement and Impact Assessment? Click on them and they will appear in a separate browser tab, they really do!
Who is putting so much pressure on you?
Great. Interactions between different stakeholders are certainly a main driver of societal impact. But make sure not to overload your stakeholders and give them time to do their essential tasks. Maybe you have an interest in the Productive Interactions Approach. (Click on it)
Well of course it is, isn’t it? But give it another try.
Nice shot. So you say impact is any change induced by science. But is science not always having some effect on society? Isn’t it hard to find science with no effects? And is science not part of society itself?
Ah, you mean the good stuff. But what exactly is good? Who decides what’s good and bad?
It is certainly legitimate to view it that way. (Also see the Productive Interactions Approach)
We like your self-confidence. And we are sure you know a lot about society and how to improve it. Please share your knowledge with us and everyone else!
Are you tired of commonplace answers and never ending debates without getting anywhere? Well, not answering your phone is an option sometimes.
You busy lizzie. Great that you want to integrate insights and perspectives. But what exactly do you want to learn from them, and how will you involve them? And how to handle the information load and opposing opinions?
Great pick. But consider that societal members and researchers can have different and opposing interests. Some want the impossible, so let’s organise a focus group!
What a time-saving move! But are you sure academia can always take the pulse of society? Fine excuse: it’s all case-dependent, is it not?
Fair enough. But maybe there are other options (transparency, multi-stakeholder settings) of inclusion without giving it away.