Probing the impact of integrity and integration on societal trust in science

POIESIS examines research integrity and the integration of society in research as vehicles for responsible knowledge creation. It recognizes the intrinsic value of both research practices that align with ethical, legal, and professional standards, and the integration of relevant societal stakeholders in all phases of the research cycle. However, evidence of the impact of integrity and integration on societal (mis)trust in science, research, and innovation is lacking. POIESIS will carry out an extensive research programme to systematically examine the interrelatedness of integrity, integration, and trust, and the role of institutions in fostering a research climate that is conducive to societal trust in science.

POIESIS will do this through (i) analysis of existing data streams on citizen trust, responsible and questionable research practices, and institutional policies to enhance responsible research; (ii) implementation of a portfolio of small scale studies, tailored to capture empirically the relatedness of integrity, integration, and trust, focusing on the chains of mediation that connect research practices with, ultimately, the interpretation and assessment of these practices by wider, non-academic publics; and (iii) conducting a set of participatory research actions in which stakeholders actively co-create knowledge, focusing on the role of institutions in nurturing responsible research cultures and practices that are conducive to trust in science.

Through substantive engagement with stakeholders and an ambitious plan for dissemination and communication, POIESIS will create viable pathways to achieving its intended scientific, economic, and societal impacts. POIESIS will build a better knowledge base about the linkages of research practices and societal trust in science, providing targeted recommendations for designated user groups about tackling societal mistrust in science and strengthening the co-creation of research and innovation contents by society.