Project description
Moving beyond the Matthew effect in research
The idea that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer is a social phenomenon linked to the Matthew effect. Essentially, it refers to the concept that those who already have status can gain more, whereas those without status struggle more to gain it. In other words, it is the accumulated advantage. The EU-funded ON-MERRIT project will investigate this concept in terms of responsible research and innovation (RRI). Specifically, it will examine whether open processes are enough to drive participation or whether this also requires capacity in terms of knowledge, skills, motivation and technological readiness. The results will assist in improving policies and creating indicators and incentives.
Objective
ON-MERRIT targets an equitable scientific system that rewards based on merit rather than the “Matthew Effect” of cumulative advantage. Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), including elements like Open Science and Gender Equality, promises to fundamentally transform scholarship to bring greater transparency and participation to research processes, and increase the impact of outputs. Yet just making processes open will not per se drive re-use or participation unless also accompanied by the capacity (in terms of knowledge, skills, motivation and technological readiness) to do so. Absorptive capacity and ability to capitalize on knowledge resources vary considerably amongst business, researchers and the general public. Those in possession of such capacities are at an advantage, with the effect that RRI’s agenda of inclusivity is put at risk by conditions of “cumulative advantage” (“Matthew Effect”). Recognising this key threat to RRI, ON-MERRIT’s transdisciplinary consortium deploys a cutting-edge combination of qualitative (surveys, questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, case-studies) and computational (scientometrics, social network analysis, predictive analytics, text and data mining) methods that use stakeholder participation and co-design to engage researchers, industry, policy-makers and citizens in examining the extent of the Matthew Effect in key RRI elements (Public Engagement, Gender, Open Access/Open Science and Governance). Selected research questions focus on disciplinary contexts of particular importance for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Agriculture, Climate, and Health). ON-MERRIT then synthesises this evidence to make evidence-based policy recommendations on how Research Performing and Funding Organisations and others should amend policies, indicators and incentives to address and/or mitigate these effects, thus breaking new ground to broaden the SWAFS knowledge-base and show the way ahead for equitable RRI.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.5.c. - Integrate society in science and innovation issues, policies and activities in order to integrate citizens' interests and values and to increase the quality, relevance, social acceptability and sustainability of research and innovation outcomes in various fields of activity from social innovation to areas such as biotechnology and nanotechnology Main Programme
- H2020-EU.5.g. - Take due and proportional precautions in research and innovation activities by anticipating and assessing potential environmental, health and safety impacts
- H2020-EU.5.d. - Encourage citizens to engage in science through formal and informal science education, and promote the diffusion of science-based activities, namely in science centres and through other appropriate channels
- H2020-EU.5.h. - Improving knowledge on science communication in order to improve the quality and effectiveness of interactions between scientists, general media and the public
- H2020-EU.5.a. - Make scientific and technological careers attractive to young students, and forster sustainable interaction between schools, research institutions, industry and civil society organisations
- H2020-EU.5.f. - Develop the governance for the advancement of responsible research and innovation by all stakeholders, which is sensitive to society needs and demands and promote an ethics framework for research and innovation
- H2020-EU.5.b. - Promote gender equality in particular by supporting structural change in the organisation of research institutions and in the content and design of research activities
- H2020-EU.5.e. - Develop the accessibility and the use of the results of publicly-funded research
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
8010 Graz
Austria
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.