Watch the Webinar: Empowering Social and Behavioral Science Researchers
In 2024, Sage surveyed social and behavioral science (SBS) researchers from 96 countries to better understand their motivation, if any, to conduct research that makes an impact outside of academic circles. Sage, the parent of Social Science Space, received over 1,800 responses, mostly from researchers working at academic institutions, which it presented in a whitepaper.
Some 30% said they receive no recognition at all. 92% of SBS researchers agree that the ultimate goal of research is to benefit society, but only 76% believe their peers agree, and only 68% feel their institutions agree. And only 37% said their institution rewards efforts to apply research outside of academia through tenure or promotion.
With that as a baseline, Sage hosted a webinar on April 15 to explore that disconnect between researchers’ desires to make real-world impact and the incentive structures of their institutions. Guests on the webinar were:
- Euan Adie, managing director at Overton, which created the free tool Sage Policy Profiles. age Policy Profiles helps researchers see where their work is influencing policy and identify timely opportunities for engagement
- Rebecca E. Heiser, research impacts specialist at Oregon State University and a staffer with the Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society
- Jessica Bennett, associate vice president of academic affairs at the Association of Public and land-Grant Universities
- Edmund Obeng, research associate at Sage and a co-author of the report.
Resources cited in the webinar include;
The Sage whitepaper Do social scientists care if they make societal impact?
APLU’s Public Impact Research resource hub
Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society
The report Mapping Institutional Pathways for Advancing Research Impacts
