高校科研成果的社会影响评估新趋势:基于研究前沿的文献述评与展望

New Trends in Social Impact Assessment of Research Results in Universities:A Review of the Literature and Prospects Based on Research Frontiers

科研成果社会影响评估是近年来各国科研评估框架中的重要维度,也是我国科研评估改革破除“唯论文”“SCI至上”等不良评价导向、建立多元评价标准的重要抓手。全面系统梳理科研成果社会影响评估领域的知识结构和研究前沿,及时总结研究新趋势,对于深化理论研究、推动实践创新具有重要意义。系统分析梳理近20年国内外科研成果的社会影响评估相关文献,从评估导向、评估理念、评估方法、评估主体4个维度对该研究领域文献进行述评,发现研究趋势主要包括:评估导向过程化,即从关注影响结果到关注互动过程;评估理念人本化,即从关注绩效到关注受益人;评估方法综合化,即从线性评价到非线性评价;评估主体多元化,即在学术同行中纳入非学术评审。

The impact of scientific research is assessed by its contribution to the whole society,economy,culture,public policy,health care,environment,and life quality of citizens outside of the academic community.In recent years,some international cases have demonstrated the transformation of the evaluation paradigm of scientific research,with a new dimension of impact assessment that focuses on comprehensive impact involving both academic and non-academic factors.With the evolution of science and society,impact assessment of scientific research is increasingly valued,following the logic of knowledge production,which facilitates public accountability,and helps strengthen the social responsibility of researchers.As a result,social impact assessment of research results has become an important dimension in the framework of scientific research assessment in recent years,and is also an important tool in the reform of scientific research assessment in China to change the evaluation orientation with a mere focus on papers and superiority on SCI,and to establish multiple evaluation criteria.Along with the advancement of evaluation practice in various countries,social impact assessment has also become a focus of scholarly attention,producing a large and rich body of research.In order to meet the contemporary requirements of deepening education evaluation reform in the new era,this study summarizes the research trends concerning social impact assessment in universities by means of literature research,which provides strong theoretical support for the construction of a scientific and feasible social impact assessment system and the promotion of reform and innovation in the research evaluation system in China.It also reflects on the shortcomings of existing research and proposes the focus and possible growth points for future research,with a view to advancing the research in this field towards continuous enrichment and depth.The study follows the logic of "what to assess-what leads to assessment-why to assess-how to assess-who to assess".The assessment system is defined as an organic whole,including assessment object,assessment orientation,assessment concept,assessment methods and assessment subject based on the integration of the conceptual framework of existing studies.Among them,as the assessment object has been defined as the research results of universities,the four dimensions of assessment orientation,assessment philosophy,assessment methods and assessment subjects present the cutting-edge developments and core ideas in this research field.The findings of this study suggest that four new trends are emerging in current social impact assessment research.The first is the "process-oriented" assessment.In studies on social impact assessment,the emphasis is shifted from the outcomes of impacts to the interactions that occur during the impact process.The next is "humanized" assessment philosophy.In studies on social impact assessment,the tendency to focus on beneficiaries or groups of beneficiaries is more evident,i.e.,human beings are the starting and ending points of social impact assessment,and relevant studies focus on individuals or groups of beneficiaries.The third is "integrated" assessment methodology.In studies related to social impact assessment,there is a tendency to adopt an integrated approach to social impact assessment,which is considered to better present a "complete picture" of social impact and ensure the objectivity and impartiality of the assessment.The last refers to the "diversity" of assessment subjects.In studies related to social impact assessment,it is advocated that non-academic review should be included in addition to traditional academic review.This approach is considered to facilitate a broader group of people to understand the content of the research,jointly develop the research agenda and achieve impact.This study provides a comprehensive and systematic overview of the knowledge structure and research frontiers in the field of social impact assessment of research results,and summarizes new trends in research in a timely manner,which is of great significance for deepening theoretical research and promoting innovation in practice.It further reflects on the shortcomings of existing research,and suggests focal points and possible growth areas for future research,which will help to further deepen the research in this area.