Navigating the labyrinth of RI through a practical application — A case study in a cross-disciplinary research project

Zhao, Jun; Patel, Menisha; Inglesant, Philip; Portillo, Virgina; Webb, Helena; Dowthwaite, Liz; Fiddi, Paula; Legastelois, Bénédicte; Perez Vallejos, Elvira; Rovatsos, Michael; Jirotka, Marina

Abstract

Responsible Innovation (RI) aims to enable research and innovation to take a more systematic approach to anticipating potential risks and consequences of planned research/innovative outputs. The Anticipation, Reflection, Engagement and Action (AREA) framework provides a flexible mechanism for organisations and researchers to align research and innovation with societal values, needs and challenges. However, its actual application may prove challenging for practitioners. In this paper, we describe how the AREA framework has been embedded in an interdisciplinary research project in the UK over the period of 2019–2021 through dedicated monthly RI workshops. To gain insights from this practice, we have collected qualitative data from discussions throughout the project and performed a systematic analysis of the logging practice itself. We discuss benefits and challenges associated with embedding an RI framework within an interdisciplinary research team, and present recommendations for future adoption of the AREA framework in a cross-disciplinary research setting.

Citation

Zhao, J., Patel, M., Inglesant, P., Portillo, V., Webb, H., Dowthwaite, L., …Jirotka, M. (2023). Navigating the labyrinth of RI through a practical application — A case study in a cross-disciplinary research project. Journal of Responsible Technology, 15, Article 100064. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrt.2023.100064

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 13, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Aug 2, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-10
• Deposit Date: Aug 8, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 8, 2023
• Journal: Journal of Responsible Technology
• Electronic ISSN: 2666-6596
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Article Number: 100064
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrt.2023.100064
• Keywords: Responsible innovation; Algorithms; Frameworks; Human centred research
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/23864642
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666659623000070?via%3Dihub