Researchers’ perceptions of COVID-19 impact on Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)-based practices and society’s view of science in the first months of the pandemic

  • Anna Sala-Bubaré Universitat Ramon LLull, Spain
  • Mariona Corcelles Universitat Ramon LLull, Spain
  • Núria Suñé-Soler Universitat Ramon LLull, Spain
  • Montserrat Castelló Universitat Ramon LLull, Spain
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18543/tjhe.2324
Keywords: responsible research, COVID-19, pandemic, researchers, disciplines, RRI principles

Abstract

Over the last decade, national and international agencies have repeatedly called for research practices aligned with the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), with varied effects on different disciplines and countries. The COVID-19 pandemic made this need even more critical. This study aimed to explore whether and how, from researchers’ point of view, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to changes in RRI-based research practices in the different disciplines and, more generally, society’s perception of science. 1499 researchers in the three Catalan-speaking regions of Spain responded to an online questionnaire in the first months of the pandemic. Results showed that while only half perceived an impact on RRI-based practices, this proportion was higher for Health Sciences and Social Sciences researchers in all the dimensions. Most researchers perceived a positive impact on societal actors’ views of science, although researchers in the Humanities were more sceptical than those in other disciplines. The analysis of open-ended questions revealed researchers from all disciplines were also concerned about fake news and claimed that researchers’ working conditions and research funding across all disciplines needed to be improved for future research to be capable of coping with current and future challenges.

Received: 31 December 2021
Accepted: 29 September 2022

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Author Biographies

Anna Sala-Bubaré, Universitat Ramon LLull, Spain

PhD, is a lecturer at the FPCEE Blanquerna-Universitat Ramon Llull and member of the SINTE research team (www.sinte.me). Her research topics include writing, doctoral education and entrepreneur education.

Mariona Corcelles, Universitat Ramon LLull, Spain

PhD, is lecturer at FPCEE Blanquerna-Universitat Ramon Llull, educational counselor, and member of the SINTE research team (www.sinte.me). Her research topics include early career education, writing and collaborative learning.

Núria Suñé-Soler, Universitat Ramon LLull, Spain

Associate professor at the FPCEE Blanquerna-Universitat Ramon Llull and member of SINTE research team (www.sinte.me). Her research topics include doctoral education and entrepreneur education.

Montserrat Castelló, Universitat Ramon LLull, Spain

PhD, is a full professor and Director of the Research Institute on Applied Psychology at the FPCEE Blanquerna-Universitat Ramon Llull and member of the SINTE research team (www.sinte.me). Her research topics include academic writing and identity of Early Career Researchers.

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Published
2022-11-29
How to Cite
Sala-Bubaré, Anna, Mariona Corcelles, Núria Suñé-Soler, and Montserrat Castelló. 2022. “Researchers’ Perceptions of COVID-19 Impact on Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)-Based Practices and society’s View of Science in the First Months of the Pandemic”. Tuning Journal for Higher Education 10 (1), 241-62. https://doi.org/10.18543/tjhe.2324.
Issue
Vol. 10 No. 1 (2022): Perspectives, stakeholders, and competences
Section
Special Section

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