Dissemination and engagement

This page is part of Taylor & Francis and Sense about Science's research integrity toolkit.

Engaging directly with the public (e.g., through social media, public talks, or community events) provides the opportunity to both share your work and listen to questions and concerns that people have. It can also inform future research.

To deliver on your ethical commitment to any research participants involved in your study, the findings and implications should be shared with them in an accessible way.

Communicate clearly: consider the most suitable
format and whether translations are needed. The Research Authority provides guidance on informing participants.

Public engagement also allows researchers to reflect on effective communication – how do you frame your research to support understanding? When you consider the values and wider societal context within which your research sits, this leads to more trustworthy communication. Consider whether the way you communicate your research equips people to ask useful questions themselves.

Journalists seek compelling stories, which will require you to frame research in an interesting angle without compromising scientific accuracy. Building relationships with journalists can facilitate accurate reporting of research findings. Understanding their challenges and working together can also lead to more effective science communication.

Being open about what we know, what we do not, and how confident we are also invites trust. Leveling with people
about the trade-offs, the limitations and uncertainties of research as well as the strengths, shows that you have the
humility to update with more evidence. In a wider context of misinformation and overconfidence, transparency about uncertainty is what sets responsible research apart.

For more support to communicate scientific uncertainty and understanding where it matters most, see Making Sense of Uncertainty, produced by an interdisciplinary group of researchers and practitioners.

Many researchers work in high-stakes areas (e.g., immigration, vaccine safety, drug efficacy, climate mitigation, public health, behavioral science related to public policy, emerging technologies, engineering biology, AI, or research involving animals) where it is vital to take responsibility for how evidence is used in society.

To do this effectively, an understanding of policymakers' needs and the problems they are aiming to solve is very important. With that understanding, you can provide them with clear, accurate information, timed for when they need it.

Tips for communicating research to policymakers:

1. Know how your research relates to societal challenges
2. Understand policymaking and how decisions are made in your country
3. Think about the questions that policymakers need answers to
4. Get to know your audience
5. Build your visibility and credibility, and maintain your contacts
6. Keep your language and message simple

For more information on how to reach policymakers, see these resources on getting your research into U.K. Parliament and 10 steps to reach and inform policymakers.