In the third of our annual reviews we return to a central focus of the LSE Impact Blog, ‘impact’. From the creation of useful evidence, to designing engaging events and forms of research communication, this review brings together ten of the top posts on research impact published on the LSE Impact Blog in 2024.
Walking in policymakers’ shoes – Using role-play to foster better research/policy relations
Researchers and policymakers have long been seen as two communities, which although dealing with similar issues, have distinct institutional norms and bounded rationalities. Lucile Maertens, Audrey Alejandro and Zoé Cheli suggest roleplay can be a useful tool in reducing these differences and creating more productive interactions between research and policy.
What skills do knowledge brokers need?
Reporting on a study of knowledge brokers’ views on the attributes required to be good at their job, Denis Karcher and Chris Cvitanovic present four attributes and styles of working that underpin good knowledge brokering and suggest how they might be evaluated.
How to solve the evidence gap in global public policy
Drawing on a new report, Deelan Maru and David Halpern outline the extent of under-evidenced public policy interventions and suggest how collaborative international approaches to building evidence architecture for policymaking could bridge this gap.
Universities need to recognise and support the permeability of third space careers
Jonathan Grant and Tom Kennie explore the role of third space professionals, those who work between academia and various fields of practice, and suggest how universities can better support their careers by breaking down the existing binary between academic and professional service staff.
Could translational research be a model for long-term impact in the social sciences and humanities?
Drawing on the findings of a workshop on making translational research design principles the norm for European research, Gabi Lombardo, Jonathan Deer, Anne-Charlotte Fauvel, Vicky Gardner and Lan Murdock discuss the characteristics of translational research, ways of supporting cross disciplinary collaboration, and the challenges and opportunities of adopting translational principles in the social sciences and humanities.
How can research funders make the most of the knowledge they already have?
Discussing a new project to mobilise research based knowledge for public health, Liz Such, Andy Tattersall, Joe Langley and Fiona Marshall outline how local government, civil society groups and researchers can collaborate in mutually beneficial ways to unlock the impact of existing research.
Do scientists need to be ‘relatable’ for the public to trust their role in policymaking?
Social media and a rolling news cycle have led to significant increase in and diversification of the types experts and expertise circulating in the public sphere. It has also introduced media dynamics into the production of knowledge. Drawing on the findings of new report, Christina Boswell and Molly Morgan Jones, suggest that the link between trust and relatability is important to good science communication.
Swiftposium – Why we held an academic conference on the world’s biggest pop star
Reflecting on how they brought about “Swiftposium” (an academic conference focused on all things Taylor Swift) Hannah McCann, Eloise Faichney, Rebecca Trelease and Emma Whatman consider the value of academic perspectives on popular culture and its power as a medium to bring research and society closer together.
Academic research and industry need more mutual feedback
The priorities of academic researchers and research users in practice and industry are poorly aligned. Drawing on the practical expertise of those working at the interface of research and practice, Yogesh K. Dwivedi, Laurie Hughes and Anand Jeyaraj present their 4D framework for better integrating the needs of researchers and research users.
What is a “social impact scholar”?
Having a positive impact beyond academia can often be seen as a requirement, rather than as a personal orientation to research and its potential to create social change. John E. Wilcox and Brandon Reynante reflect on their experience as social impact scholars and what it means for their research.
The content generated on this blog is for information purposes only. This Article gives the views and opinions of the authors and does not reflect the views and opinions of the Impact of Social Science blog (the blog), nor of the London School of Economics and Political Science. Please review our comments policy if you have any concerns on posting a comment below.
Image Credit: LSE Impact Blog.
