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Scientists’ perceptions of the social and political implications of their research

Author

Listed:
  • Henry Small

    (Thomson Scientific)

  • Ann Kushmerick

    (Thomson Scientific)

  • Doug Benson

    (Thomson Scientific)

Abstract

We explore an empirical approach to studying the social and political implications of science by gathering scientists’ perceptions of the social impacts of their research. It was found that 78 percent of surveyed scientists from a variety of fields responding to a survey indicated that the research performed in connection with a recent highly cited paper had such implications. Health related implications were the most common, but other types of implications encountered were technological spin-offs, public understanding, economic and policy benefits. Surprisingly many scientists considered the advancement of science itself to be a social implication of their research. The relations of these implications to the field and topics of research are examined, and a mapping of implications gives an overview of the major dimensions of the social impacts of science.

Suggested Citation

  • Henry Small & Ann Kushmerick & Doug Benson, 2008. "Scientists’ perceptions of the social and political implications of their research," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 74(2), pages 207-221, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:74:y:2008:i:2:d:10.1007_s11192-008-0213-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-008-0213-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Henry Small, 2006. "Tracking and predicting growth areas in science," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 68(3), pages 595-610, September.
    2. Narin, Francis & Hamilton, Kimberly S. & Olivastro, Dominic, 1997. "The increasing linkage between U.S. technology and public science," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(3), pages 317-330, October.
    3. Henry Small, 2004. "Why authors think their papers are highly cited," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 60(3), pages 305-316, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Erzi Tang & Fengchao Liu & Jia Sun & Zulfqar Haider, 2014. "The relationship between scientists and science: knowledge-based innovation output," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 98(3), pages 1827-1835, March.

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