Confidence in Research

voices from the world of research

Fact
46% of researchers surveyed enjoy engaging in discussions about their research online or on social media, compared to 23% who don’t enjoy it
Fact
52% of researchers surveyed say engaging with discussions of research online or on social media is essential to develop their reputation in their field, while 18% disagree
Fact
Whether a piece of research is published in a peer-reviewed journal is the most important marker of reliability according to 74% of respondents
Fact
Almost four-in-five respondents believe that the pandemic increased the importance of science bodies and researchers in explaining research findings to the public
Fact
More than half of researchers are concerned about the oversimplification of research and politicisation of research
Fact
When asked about the impacts of the pandemic on access to funding and resources nearly half of early-career researcher respondents feel it exacerbated inequalities in their field
Fact
51% of researchers surveyed say they feel a responsibility to engage in online/social media discussions, compared to 20% who don’t feel such responsibility
Fact
45% of researchers surveyed agreed that a lasting impact of the pandemic will be increased scrutiny on how research is conducted, and just over a third hopeful that better quality research will be a key benefit
Fact
Over two thirds of researchers surveyed say that the pandemic increased the importance of separating good quality research from misinformation
Fact
46% of researchers surveyed enjoy engaging in discussions about their research online or on social media, compared to 23% who don’t enjoy it
Fact
52% of researchers surveyed say engaging with discussions of research online or on social media is essential to develop their reputation in their field, while 18% disagree
Fact
Whether a piece of research is published in a peer-reviewed journal is the most important marker of reliability according to 74% of respondents
Fact
Almost four-in-five respondents believe that the pandemic increased the importance of science bodies and researchers in explaining research findings to the public
Fact
More than half of researchers are concerned about the oversimplification of research and politicisation of research
Fact
When asked about the impacts of the pandemic on access to funding and resources nearly half of early-career researcher respondents feel it exacerbated inequalities in their field
Fact
51% of researchers surveyed say they feel a responsibility to engage in online/social media discussions, compared to 20% who don’t feel such responsibility
Fact
45% of researchers surveyed agreed that a lasting impact of the pandemic will be increased scrutiny on how research is conducted, and just over a third hopeful that better quality research will be a key benefit
Fact
Over two thirds of researchers surveyed say that the pandemic increased the importance of separating good quality research from misinformation

personal stories from researchers

In this age of generative AI and misinformation, it is crucial for researchers to be able to prioritize quality information, ensure transparency in their work and be equipped to communicate their findings with the public. Following our landmark 2022 study, we’re asking researchers to voice their experiences and needs about the challenges and opportunities around building Confidence in Research.

See what they have to say and feel free to share on your preferred channel with your own opinions and stories, with the hashtag #confidenceinresearch

Stories behind the facts

being visible in the public domain

Communicating research promotes transparency and can increase the impact of research, but it can open researchers to criticism or abuse. What do researchers need to help communicate complex ideas to a broader audience?

   
   
   
   
   
   
Stories behind the facts

Countering Misinformation

Nearly a quarter of researchers believe that publicly countering misinformation is part of their role. As misinformation and misunderstanding proliferates, how should researchers respond and what support do they need?

   
   
   
   
Stories behind the facts

Enhancing Peer Review Process

Peer review provides the rigorous evaluation that helps establish the credibility of scientific findings. But the system isn’t perfect. How can peer review be improved to better support the research community?