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Responsible research impact: Ethics for making a difference
Open Research Europe, Volume: 5, Start page: 92
Swansea University Author:
Simon Robinson
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© 2025 Jensen EA et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
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DOI (Published version): 10.12688/openreseurope.19649.1
Abstract
The need for ethical guidelines that support and empower researchers who aim to enhance the societal impact of research has become critical. Recognizing the growing emphasis on research impact by governments and funding bodies worldwide, this article investigates the often overlooked ethical dimensi...
| Published in: | Open Research Europe |
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| ISSN: | 2732-5121 |
| Published: |
F1000 Research Ltd
2025
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69402 |
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We focus on ethical issues and practices that are specific to the process of intentionally working to develop societal impacts from research. We highlight the complexities and ethical dilemmas encountered when researchers engage with non-academic groups, such as policymakers, industries, and local communities. Through a combination of literature review and insights from participatory workshops, the article identifies key issues and offers a new ethical framework for responsible research impact. This framework aims to guide researchers and institutions through the process of limiting potential harm while delivering societal benefits in a way that is realistic and balanced. The aim is to establish ethical practices for engagement and impact, without making the process so onerous that researchers are less likely to undertake such activities. The article concludes with actionable recommendations for policymakers, research funders, research performing organizations, institutional review boards and/or ethics committees, and individual researchers. Making use of such recommendations can foster an ethically responsible approach to research impact across academic disciplines.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>Open Research Europe</journal><volume>5</volume><journalNumber/><paginationStart>92</paginationStart><paginationEnd/><publisher>F1000 Research Ltd</publisher><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint/><issnElectronic>2732-5121</issnElectronic><keywords>ethical guidelines, research ethics, research integrity, public engagement, research impact, policy engagement, stakeholder analysis, community engagement</keywords><publishedDay>31</publishedDay><publishedMonth>3</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2025</publishedYear><publishedDate>2025-03-31</publishedDate><doi>10.12688/openreseurope.19649.1</doi><url/><notes>Letter</notes><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Mathematics and Computer Science School</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>MACS</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm/><funders>This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement Nos 101056848 (Upgrading knowledge and solutions to fast-track wetland restoration across Europe [WET HORIZONS]); 101132694 (Creating an Inclusive European Citizens’ Assembly [EU-CIEMBLY]); 101111933 (HYdrogen Public Opinion and accePtance [HYPOP]); 101177493 (Rare earth and magnets hub for a resilient Europe [REMHub]). This research was also funded by Plymouth University’s Arts and Humanities Research Council Impact Accelerator Account (grant number: AH/X003124/1), in-kind support from the Institute for Methods Innovation. BGM’s work on this research was partly supported by the Global Perspectives fund from the Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station.</funders><projectreference/><lastEdited>2025-06-18T13:45:05.9478274</lastEdited><Created>2025-05-01T16:11:17.8349356</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Science and Engineering</level><level id="2">School of Mathematics and Computer Science - Computer Science</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Eric Allen</firstname><surname>Jensen</surname><orcid>0000-0002-8332-4507</orcid><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>Mark S.</firstname><surname>Reed</surname><order>2</order></author><author><firstname>James</firstname><surname>Daybell</surname><order>3</order></author><author><firstname>Louise</firstname><surname>Rutt</surname><order>4</order></author><author><firstname>Aaron M.</firstname><surname>Jensen</surname><orcid>0000-0002-0714-6251</orcid><order>5</order></author><author><firstname>Gabriella</firstname><surname>Arrigoni</surname><order>6</order></author><author><firstname>Marta</firstname><surname>Ballesteros</surname><orcid>0000-0002-5415-8722</orcid><order>7</order></author><author><firstname>Sadiq</firstname><surname>Bhanbhro</surname><orcid>0000-0003-0771-8130</orcid><order>8</order></author><author><firstname>Bethann G.</firstname><surname>Merkle</surname><orcid>0000-0002-0427-9411</orcid><order>9</order></author><author><firstname>Caitlin</firstname><surname>Hafferty</surname><order>10</order></author><author><firstname>Philly</firstname><surname>Iglehart</surname><orcid>0000-0002-6233-1943</orcid><order>11</order></author><author><firstname>Sawsan</firstname><surname>Khuri</surname><order>12</order></author><author><firstname>Andrzej</firstname><surname>Klimczuk</surname><orcid>0000-0002-8072-1152</orcid><order>13</order></author><author><firstname>Ian D.</firstname><surname>Marder</surname><orcid>0000-0003-3293-7730</orcid><order>14</order></author><author><firstname>Daniel</firstname><surname>Milosavljevic</surname><orcid>0000-0002-8690-0952</orcid><order>15</order></author><author><firstname>Josmel</firstname><surname>Pacheco-Mendoza</surname><orcid>0000-0002-2251-8092</orcid><order>16</order></author><author><firstname>Ursula</firstname><surname>Pool</surname><orcid>0000-0002-3658-3346</orcid><order>17</order></author><author><firstname>Simon</firstname><surname>Robinson</surname><orcid>0000-0001-9228-006X</orcid><order>18</order></author><author><firstname>Lindsay C.</firstname><surname>Stringer</surname><order>19</order></author><author><firstname>Steve</firstname><surname>Taylor</surname><order>20</order></author><author><firstname>Anne H.</firstname><surname>Toomey</surname><order>21</order></author><author><firstname>Daniela</firstname><surname>Martin</surname><orcid>0000-0002-3605-2799</orcid><order>22</order></author><author><firstname>Lisa Louise</firstname><surname>Taylor-Sayles</surname><order>23</order></author><author><firstname>Andrew N.</firstname><surname>Makohon-George</surname><orcid>0000-0001-7270-2384</orcid><order>24</order></author><author><firstname>Russell T.</firstname><surname>Rodrigo</surname><orcid>0009-0004-9747-0865</orcid><order>25</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>69402__34158__c8153a4c249641769f285f994e76a1cc.pdf</filename><originalFilename>69402.pdf</originalFilename><uploaded>2025-05-01T16:14:04.2944421</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>811661</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>Version of Record</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><documentNotes>© 2025 Jensen EA et al. 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2025-06-18T13:45:05.9478274 v2 69402 2025-05-01 Responsible research impact: Ethics for making a difference cb3b57a21fa4e48ec633d6ba46455e91 0000-0001-9228-006X Simon Robinson Simon Robinson true false 2025-05-01 MACS The need for ethical guidelines that support and empower researchers who aim to enhance the societal impact of research has become critical. Recognizing the growing emphasis on research impact by governments and funding bodies worldwide, this article investigates the often overlooked ethical dimensions of generating and evaluating research impact. We focus on ethical issues and practices that are specific to the process of intentionally working to develop societal impacts from research. We highlight the complexities and ethical dilemmas encountered when researchers engage with non-academic groups, such as policymakers, industries, and local communities. Through a combination of literature review and insights from participatory workshops, the article identifies key issues and offers a new ethical framework for responsible research impact. This framework aims to guide researchers and institutions through the process of limiting potential harm while delivering societal benefits in a way that is realistic and balanced. The aim is to establish ethical practices for engagement and impact, without making the process so onerous that researchers are less likely to undertake such activities. The article concludes with actionable recommendations for policymakers, research funders, research performing organizations, institutional review boards and/or ethics committees, and individual researchers. Making use of such recommendations can foster an ethically responsible approach to research impact across academic disciplines. Journal Article Open Research Europe 5 92 F1000 Research Ltd 2732-5121 ethical guidelines, research ethics, research integrity, public engagement, research impact, policy engagement, stakeholder analysis, community engagement 31 3 2025 2025-03-31 10.12688/openreseurope.19649.1 Letter COLLEGE NANME Mathematics and Computer Science School COLLEGE CODE MACS Swansea University This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement Nos 101056848 (Upgrading knowledge and solutions to fast-track wetland restoration across Europe [WET HORIZONS]); 101132694 (Creating an Inclusive European Citizens’ Assembly [EU-CIEMBLY]); 101111933 (HYdrogen Public Opinion and accePtance [HYPOP]); 101177493 (Rare earth and magnets hub for a resilient Europe [REMHub]). This research was also funded by Plymouth University’s Arts and Humanities Research Council Impact Accelerator Account (grant number: AH/X003124/1), in-kind support from the Institute for Methods Innovation. BGM’s work on this research was partly supported by the Global Perspectives fund from the Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station. 2025-06-18T13:45:05.9478274 2025-05-01T16:11:17.8349356 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Mathematics and Computer Science - Computer Science Eric Allen Jensen 0000-0002-8332-4507 1 Mark S. Reed 2 James Daybell 3 Louise Rutt 4 Aaron M. Jensen 0000-0002-0714-6251 5 Gabriella Arrigoni 6 Marta Ballesteros 0000-0002-5415-8722 7 Sadiq Bhanbhro 0000-0003-0771-8130 8 Bethann G. Merkle 0000-0002-0427-9411 9 Caitlin Hafferty 10 Philly Iglehart 0000-0002-6233-1943 11 Sawsan Khuri 12 Andrzej Klimczuk 0000-0002-8072-1152 13 Ian D. Marder 0000-0003-3293-7730 14 Daniel Milosavljevic 0000-0002-8690-0952 15 Josmel Pacheco-Mendoza 0000-0002-2251-8092 16 Ursula Pool 0000-0002-3658-3346 17 Simon Robinson 0000-0001-9228-006X 18 Lindsay C. Stringer 19 Steve Taylor 20 Anne H. Toomey 21 Daniela Martin 0000-0002-3605-2799 22 Lisa Louise Taylor-Sayles 23 Andrew N. Makohon-George 0000-0001-7270-2384 24 Russell T. Rodrigo 0009-0004-9747-0865 25 69402__34158__c8153a4c249641769f285f994e76a1cc.pdf 69402.pdf 2025-05-01T16:14:04.2944421 Output 811661 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2025 Jensen EA et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| title |
Responsible research impact: Ethics for making a difference |
| spellingShingle |
Responsible research impact: Ethics for making a difference Simon Robinson |
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Responsible research impact: Ethics for making a difference |
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Responsible research impact: Ethics for making a difference |
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Responsible research impact: Ethics for making a difference |
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Responsible research impact: Ethics for making a difference |
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Responsible research impact: Ethics for making a difference |
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cb3b57a21fa4e48ec633d6ba46455e91_***_Simon Robinson |
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Simon Robinson |
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Eric Allen Jensen Mark S. Reed James Daybell Louise Rutt Aaron M. Jensen Gabriella Arrigoni Marta Ballesteros Sadiq Bhanbhro Bethann G. Merkle Caitlin Hafferty Philly Iglehart Sawsan Khuri Andrzej Klimczuk Ian D. Marder Daniel Milosavljevic Josmel Pacheco-Mendoza Ursula Pool Simon Robinson Lindsay C. Stringer Steve Taylor Anne H. Toomey Daniela Martin Lisa Louise Taylor-Sayles Andrew N. Makohon-George Russell T. Rodrigo |
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The need for ethical guidelines that support and empower researchers who aim to enhance the societal impact of research has become critical. Recognizing the growing emphasis on research impact by governments and funding bodies worldwide, this article investigates the often overlooked ethical dimensions of generating and evaluating research impact. We focus on ethical issues and practices that are specific to the process of intentionally working to develop societal impacts from research. We highlight the complexities and ethical dilemmas encountered when researchers engage with non-academic groups, such as policymakers, industries, and local communities. Through a combination of literature review and insights from participatory workshops, the article identifies key issues and offers a new ethical framework for responsible research impact. This framework aims to guide researchers and institutions through the process of limiting potential harm while delivering societal benefits in a way that is realistic and balanced. The aim is to establish ethical practices for engagement and impact, without making the process so onerous that researchers are less likely to undertake such activities. The article concludes with actionable recommendations for policymakers, research funders, research performing organizations, institutional review boards and/or ethics committees, and individual researchers. Making use of such recommendations can foster an ethically responsible approach to research impact across academic disciplines. |
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2025-03-31T05:24:35Z |
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