Elsevier’s landmark ‘Confidence in Research: Researchers in the spotlight’ study highlights Indian researchers’ distinct perspectives on research amid global changes

By India Education Diary Bureau Admin On Dec 8, 2023

New Delhi: The groundbreaking ‘Confidence in Research: Researchers in the spotlight’ report supported by Elsevier, a global leader in scientific research and data analytics, delves into the perspectives of Indian researchers within the evolving global research landscape.

Conducted by Economist Impact and supported by Elsevier, the report consolidates findings from a global survey of over 3,000 scientists, scholars, and researchers, including 291 responses from India. It explores how the pandemic has impacted research practices and communication amid increased public scrutiny.

Indian researchers uniquely highlight concerns about widening inequalities in access to funding and resources, where 60% agree that the pandemic exacerbated inequalities pertaining to access to funding and resources, compared to the global average of 46%.

The report also reveals that 69% of Indian respondents – same as the global average – believe the pandemic has elevated the importance of distinguishing quality information from misinformation.

Amidst growing global concern about misinformation, only 23% of Indian academics now view countering it as a primary societal role, up from just 3% before the pandemic.

The report emphasises the enduring significance of being published in a peer-reviewed journal for Indian researchers, with 65% citing it as a top influence on confidence in research. Furthermore, 78% of Indian respondents acknowledge a heightened public focus on research in the wake of the pandemic.

Here are other key highlights from ‘Confidence in Research: Researchers in the spotlight’:

81% of Indian respondents are now more likely to ensure their work is peer reviewed, compared to before the pandemic. The global average is 58%.
Half (51%) of Indian researchers believe that increased public attention will lead to better quality research, compared to 37% globally.
40% of Indian respondents feel very confident in their ability to communicate their research findings via social media, compared to 18% of respondents globally.
As compared to 32% globally, 23% of Indian respondents say that they have experienced or know a close colleague that has experienced online abuse.

Alongside supporting the landmark survey by Economist Impact, Elsevier partnered with leading science and research organisations to bring together world-renowned experts, academic leaders and early career researchers to explore the impact of the pandemic on researchers and to identify potential areas of action to help the research community and enhance confidence in research.

The comprehensive report includes recommendations from a Global Expert Panel of researchers, academic leaders, science organisations, and policymakers. These recommendations encompass:

Offering formal communication training to equip researchers with the tools for ethical, effective, and confident communication, while incentivizing strong communication skills in career development.
Providing support for researchers facing online abuse by establishing clear codes of conduct and guidance on managing online interactions.
Embedding incentive and reward structures to ensure due recognition of researchers’ contributions to enhancing confidence in science, especially in teaching, public engagement, and the peer review process.
Promoting collaboration and impact by providing financial incentives for researchers to collaborate in larger teams, emphasising quality trials and studies over quantity.
Prioritising equity and diversity by directing research funding to countries and communities that need it most.
Adopting more digestible summaries and user-friendly formats to enhance understanding and identification of quality research by policymakers, journalists, and the general public.
Prioritising consistency in R&D spending to enable researchers to plan their research, staffing, and infrastructure needs properly.
As the research landscape evolves, the report serves as a valuable resource for understanding the unique challenges and aspirations of the Indian research community.

Laura Hassink, Managing Director of Scientific, Technical and Medical Journals at Elsevier, said: “The pandemic showed just how important quality research is for addressing global challenges and accelerating progress for society. Science is advancing at an extraordinary pace but that has brought new pressures on researchers such as tackling damaging misinformation, handling public scrutiny, and communicating their work with confidence. The Economist Impact report can be a helpful stimulus as all stakeholders in research come together to turn recommendations into action. At Elsevier, we are committed to supporting the research community to tackle these challenges and thank our expert partners and the thousands of academic leaders, scientists and researchers who lent their invaluable perspectives to this important collaboration.”

Jonathan Birdwell, Global Head of Policy Research & Insights for Economist Impact, said: “The pandemic demonstrated the research community’s ability to come together and solve global problems. It increased public attention on that community like never before, presenting opportunities for open science and policy influence, but also challenges around higher volume, speed and demand for simple stories. But do researchers have confidence to embrace a more public-facing role? And are their support structures and incentives fit-for-purpose amidst this new landscape? Our research finds that many researchers want to solve societal problems, influence policy and boost public understanding of research. But to do so confidently, they need more time to devote to communication, support in the face of online abuse and recognition of their public-facing contributions.”

For information on the methodology of the study and a full list of the experts consulted can be viewed via the report.