¿How, where and when does social science’s knowledge becomes socially useful? Empirical based analysis of scientists and non-academic partners interactions.

MAURO ALONSO

Engaging Science, Technology and Society

The Society for Social Studies of Science (4S)

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2023 vol. 10

2413-8053

This paperdiscusses the strategies and motivations social sciences’ (SS) researchersdeploy to guide their knowledge production process with goals of social use andappropriation of scientific results. The paper presents findings in twodimensions. First, I discuss the motivations of the researchers to embark onthis endeavor: ¿What attracted them to their research topic/agenda? ¿What dothey perceive as the social role academic/researchers must fulfill? ¿Why dothey choose to interact with non-academic agents? The motivations of theresearchers present strong identity components about what a scientist shoulddo. For them, that their research becomes “socially useful” is not the same: itis a substantive part of what attracted them to research. In addition, thefield work showed a meaning of social commitment closely linked to makingconcrete contributions to the society. The second dimension, explores how do they aim to fulfill this social function.I discus the strategies with which they establish direct interactions withextra-academic agents. These strategies are aimed at building productiveinteractions (Spaapen and Van Drooge, 2011) that are sustained over time andbuild bonds of trust with these agents, as necessary conditions towardsknowledge use purposes. The roles and functions of those interactions classifythe actions that are performed in the frame in the interaction