Researchers´ views on communication and open science
Reference number | |
Coordinator | VETENSKAP & ALLMÄNHET - Vetenskap & Allmänhet, VA |
Funding from Vinnova | SEK 285 123 |
Project duration | November 2018 - December 2019 |
Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
The project was aimed at mapping Swedish researchers´ views on open science, communication and interaction with the surrounding society. By conducting a larger survey with a representative sample of Sweden´s researchers, and with 3,699 answers, we met the goals to: (1) get new and updated knowledge about about researchers´ attitudes to communication with the surrounding society, and (2) get new insights about researchers´ attitudes to open science.
Expected results and effects
Over half of the surveyed researchers would like to spend more time on science communication than they do today. The main barriers to science communication is too many tasks that have higher priority. Six out of ten researchers have heard about open science and associate it most with open access. The study also shows variations in academia and that different researchers have different attitudes to communicating research and also do it in different ways. The study´s results have been well received with invitations to lectures and also some media coverage.
Planned approach and implementation
The design of the study was decided in consultation with an advisory board consisting of representatives of funders, researchers, universities and science communicators. The survey was conducted as a web-based questionnaire that was distributed to more than 21,000 Swedish researchers. A field period of 13 weeks with a total of 3-4 reminders generated 3,699 responses. Analyzes were conducted by researchers at VA, in consultation with the analysts at Ipsos and the reference group. The report was written by VA.