Conference: Assessing the Impacts of Engaged Research and Its Use: Evidence and Opportunities

要提高科学的社会效益，就必须系统地关注开展研究的方式，以及不同的方法如何产生不同种类和程度的影响。现有的关于研究影响力驱动因素的研究表明，更多的参与方法-研究人员在研究过程中与社会合作伙伴进行有意义的合作-可以增加研究的使用，以支持决策。然而，我们对各种形式或水平的参与如何在真实的世界中产生不同的社会效益知之甚少;某些类型的参与甚至可能是有害的或适得其反的。提高对这一领域的理解需要对参与性研究的类型及其结果进行实证和批判性研究。该项目的主要目的是在理解、支持和改进参与性研究及其用途的许多方法之间建立联系和协调能力。该团队将召集各部门的学者和机构领导人，综合现有证据，并确定与参与性研究的影响和用途相关的未来方向。该项目的核心包括规划，执行和跨学科和以解决方案为导向的研讨会的后续报告。研讨会将召集来自不同学科、问题领域、地域和专业知识类型的专家小组进行为期一周的密集对话。参与者（n =约。30)将共同努力，综合现有的知识，找出差距，建立理解和联系，并建立以下关系的下一步：1）参与研究过程的质量，强度和寿命，2）研究影响（例如，在决策中使用证据），以及3）感兴趣的结果（例如，改善健康或教育成果）。本次会议的成果将包括一份报告和行动呼吁，旨在激励和告知科学机构的决策，包括国家科学基金会，热衷于扩大他们对参与研究的支持。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

Improving the societal benefits of science requires systematic attention to the ways in which research is conducted and how different approaches may result in various kinds and degrees of impact. Existing studies on research impact drivers suggest that more engaged approaches—where researchers meaningfully collaborate with societal partners during the research process—can increase the use of research to support decision-making. However, we know relatively little about how various forms or levels of engagement result in different societal benefits in the real world; some types of engagement may even be harmful or counterproductive. Improving understanding in this area requires empirical and critical study of the types of engaged research and their outcomes. A primary aim of this project is to build connections and coordination capacity among the many approaches to understanding, supporting, and improving engaged research and its uses. The team will convene scholars and institutional leaders across sectors to synthesize existing evidence and identify future directions related to the impacts and uses of engaged research.The heart of this project involves planning, execution, and follow-on reporting from an interdisciplinary and solutions-oriented workshop facilitated. The workshop will convene a small group of experts from a diverse range of disciplines, issue areas, geographies, and types of expertise for a weeklong intensive dialogue. The participants (n = approx. 30) will work together to synthesize existing knowledge, identify gaps, build understanding and connections, and forge next steps on the relationship among 1) the quality, intensity, and longevity of engagement in the research process, 2) research impact (e.g., use of evidence in decision making), and 3) outcomes of interest (e.g., improved health or educational outcomes). The output from this meeting will include a report and a call to action intended to inspire and inform decision-making at scientific institutions, including the National Science Foundation, keenly interested in expanding their support for engaged research.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.