The Silent Scientist: When Software Research Fails to Reach Its Audience
a day ago
- #science communication
- #software research
- #research impact
- Reflecting on one's work is a key part of scientific practice, including in software research.
- The software research community often questions the relevance and impact of their work more than other disciplines.
- Science communication is frequently overlooked in discussions about the impact of software research.
- Research can only have impact if it reaches its target audience, which requires effective communication.
- Software research covers diverse topics, from technical advancements to human-centered empirical studies, each resonating differently with stakeholders.
- Relevance is complex; what is irrelevant to one group may be crucial for another at a different time.
- Systemic challenges, like late involvement of practitioners and incentives for generalizability, hinder the perceived relevance of software research.
- Without effective communication, discussions about relevance and impact are moot.
- Practitioners are interested in software research, but researchers often fail to engage them adequately.
- Researchers can improve science communication without overhauling the publication system, using blogs, social media, and other channels.
- Lack of incentives and evidence on the effectiveness of science communication are barriers to its adoption in software research.
- Active engagement with target audiences can lead to greater impact and new collaborations.