Researcher identities and values in the impact agenda: the case of artificial intelligence academics

Abstract

A major shift in the research sector has been the increased expectation from policymakers and funders that academic research should yield some socioeconomic benefits or ‘impacts’ rather than merely new knowledge. In this paper, we explore the role that impact has in academics’ motivations and values and how impact is being integrated into academics’ core functions of research and education. We do this through in-depth interviews (n = 60) with scientists who work on the development or application of artificial intelligence (AI), broadly defined. This AI’s focus situates our participants within a strategically important, high-priority area of research for all three national contexts included in our study—Australia, the UK and the USA. Our findings reveal that the impact mission has become central to understanding the motivations and values of academics, but unevenly. We identify divergence between those who work on AI from a foundational computer science perspective and those who develop and apply AI within other scientific domains. The two groups have different understandings of key notions such as ‘impact’ and ‘applied research’, as well as different ways of integrating the impact agenda into their research and education activities. The study highlights the importance of flexible approaches to research policy and governance that are based on a deeper understanding of what motivates researchers, and that take into account academics’ educational role. Greater holistic understanding of how academic identities and practices are accommodating the impact agenda is essential to maximise synergy across activities and avoid unintended consequences.