SISOB

An Observatorium for Science in Society based in Social Models

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Funding agencies and decision-makers seek to support research with a high social impact. To identify this research, they need tools. Traditional evaluation of research has used peer review (before publication) and bibliometric indicators (afterwards). However, these tools evaluate research in terms of the values and needs of the research community, rather than those of society. Against this background, the strategic goal of the SISOB is develop novel tools making it possible to measure and predict the social impact of research. More specifically, SISOB will develop tools to measure and predict the social appropriation of research knowledge, modelled as the product of complex interactions within and between multiple, intersecting communities of scientists, journalists, industrial, decision makers and consumers. In this setting, the project will use computer-supported Social Network Analysis (SNA) to analyze how the topology of these networks can measure and predict the social impact of research.

The specific goals of the project are thus to: (i) create a framework modelling the actors, relationships, communities and social networks involved in the social appropriation of research knowledge; (ii) design and implement tools and indicators making it possible to automatically collect, analyze and visually represent data describing these actors and their interactions; (iii) create data-driven models of specific actors, communities and networks relevant to three case studies; (iv) use the tools and indicators developed by the project to collect and analyze data relevant to the same studies; (v) use the results from these studies to validate the methods and tools developed; (vi) Implement, and release in open source, a platform for the capture and analysis of social network data relevant to measuring the social impact of research.

The case studies are: mobility of researchers, knowledge sharing and peer reviewing processes.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Novel research evaluation tools based in social models predict and measure the social impact of scientific research.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Research requires funding from agencies and decision makers. In order to provide this kind of support, evaluation tools are needed. Traditional evaluation tools are known for pinpointing the values and needs of research but fall short when it comes to the needs of society.

In light of this gap, the EU-funded project 'An observatorium for science in society based in social models' (http://sisob.lcc.uma.es/ (SISOB)) developed novel tools to measure and predict the social impact of research. It did so by modelling interactions between communities such as those formed by scientists, journalists, decision makers and consumers.

Seven universities and research centres from Europe and Latin America were brought together. Items on the agenda included creating a model of the social impact of science that can describe interactions within knowledge production. A set of indicators were designed and three cases studies took place to help with designing the novel tools as well as to provide insight. From that, new software tools were created to measure the impact of social interactions.

The work resulted in analytical instruments to be applied as practical support tools for decision makers and their advisors. Two sets of tools were created. One is most useful for decision and policymakers and the other is geared more for scientists and researchers. The tools can be found in open source software and are already being used by groups outside the consortium.

A wide dissemination of research was carried out via journals and conference papers as well as through social media. More information on the project can be found on its website.