The ideas-informed
society
A co-produced research project
The aim of this co-produced project is to better understand how people engage with evidence in order to make decisions in their daily lives, be those big or small decisions.
We want to understand what sources people look to for information, and how those sources, as well as other factors in their lives, affect their views and decision making. Democratic societies thrive when citizens actively and critically engage with new ideas, developments and claims to truth so engaging with the best available evidence and using it to make decisions is crucial.
What we want to explore with this project is how close we are to this type of situation and what might be done to improve it – by both academia and publishers.
Prof Chris Brown on the ideas-informed society project
In this video, Professor Chris Brown introduces the ideas-informed society project, and outlines four key areas the work aims to explore.
Exploring an “ideas-informed” society in the modern world
Vibrant democratic societies need citizens that engage with new ideas, developments, debates, and discussions.
Faced with a world of environmental, social, and political crises, there appears to be a shift away from this ideal "ideas-informed" society
View infographic View research paper
Read the infographic transcript
Exploring an "Ideas-Informed" Society in the Modern World
Vibrant democratic societies need citizens that engage with new ideas, developments, debates, and discussions.
Faced with a world of environmental, social, and political crises, there appears to be a shift away from this ideal "ideas-informed" society.
How do we foster an "ideas-informed" society in the modern world?
A survey of 1,000 voting-age citizens in England was conducted to get the following insights:
- How do individuals keep themselves up to date?
- What is the impact of staying up to date on society?
- Which factors contribute to citizens staying up to date?
The survey found that:
- Many people keep up to date through news and newspapers, social media and blogs, but also through popular science and current affairs magazines, journals, or books.
- Factors like education and occupation affect the importance that citizens attach to values like diversity and equality fundamental to democratic society:
- In citizens with a lower level of education or professional skill: mentality of scarcity could lead to limited focus only to immediate needs
- Among citizens with a higher level of education or professional skill: there is a larger likelihood of staying up to date
- Levels of education and occupation and network of friends influence staying up to date:
- When less educated individuals get grouped together: they become less likely to seek to stay up to date
- Individuals who discuss news and currents affairs with friends: are more likely to value the importance of staying up to date
- Individuals with manual occupations but not low education levels: have a higher propensity to stay up to date
In order to foster an ideas-informed society with up-to-date citizens and an engaging public discourse, we need improved dialogue between all members of society and higher levels of education for all.
Achieving the 'ideas-informed' society: results from a Structural Equation Model using survey data from England
Emerald Open Research | Chris Brown et al. (2022) | DOI: 10.35241/emeraldopenres.14487.1
Towards an evidence-informed population: are we there and why do we care?
In his blog, Professor Chris Brown, Durham University, discusses the need for people to be evidence-informed if we want a thriving democratic society. Linked to this, he outlines the idea of Optimal Rational Positions (ORPs) – acts, states or situations that society deems beneficial.
The Ideas-Informed Society: Why We Need It and How to Make It Happen
By Chris Brown & Graham Handscomb
Jana Groß Ophoff works at the University College of Teacher Education (Vorarlberg, AT). Jana researches teacher education, research-informed education, and educational assessment and evaluation.
Sharon Parkinson is the Quality Education for All Publishing Development Manager at Emerald Publishing.
Ruth is a former Primary headteacher, a PhD candidate at University of Durham and an early career researcher with an interest in all things education particularly leadership and policy.Closing the impact gap
We know that part of the journey to real-world impact relies on making research both accessible and engaging for policy-makers, communities, and end-users.
But do current research formats effectively communicate to these groups?
Are you in?
We’re relaunching our Real Impact Manifesto and asking you to join us in working towards a fairer, more equitable environment where research can have a real-world impact and those within it can reach their full potential.
We outline six commitments where we can work together for change, including finding new formats and channels to disseminate research – will you join us?
Our goal for quality education for all
We believe in quality education for everyone, everywhere and by highlighting the issue and working with experts in the field, we can start to find ways we can all be part of the solution.
Our goal is to help researchers to share their work, and partner to find ways to break down the divides so there is equal opportunity to access quality education and participate in higher education, training and work, with a voice that is heard. We believe everyone should have a chance to be the best they can be regardless of where they started.
Get in touch
If you would like to find out more about this project, please fill out the form and one of our team will be in touch.
