Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40547537›Full record

ArticleOpen research Europe2025

Responsible research impact: Ethics for making a difference.

Eric Allen Jensen, Mark S Reed, James Daybell, Louise Rutt, Aaron M Jensen, Gabriella Arrigoni, Marta Ballesteros, Sadiq Bhanbhro, Bethann G Merkle, Caitlin Hafferty and 15 more

Abstract readLetter
In one paragraph

Article in Open research Europe, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

25 authors.

Eric Allen JensenInstitute for Methods Innovation, Dublin, D02 XE80, Ireland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8332-4507
Mark S ReedNatural Capital Challenge Centre, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK.
James DaybellFaculty of Arts, Humanities and Business, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK.
Louise RuttFaculty of Arts, Humanities and Business, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK.
Aaron M JensenInstitute for Methods Innovation, Dublin, D02 XE80, Ireland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0714-6251
Gabriella ArrigoniNorthumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, NE1 8ST, UK.
Marta BallesterosSpanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), Madrid, 28002, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5415-8722
Sadiq BhanbhroCentre for Applied Health and Social Care Research, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, England, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0771-8130
Bethann G MerkleDepartment of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, WY 82071, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0427-9411
Caitlin HaffertyUniversity of Oxford, Oxford, England, OX1 2JD, UK.
Philly IglehartPlymouth Marjon University, Plymouth, England, PL6 8BH, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6233-1943
Sawsan KhuriCollaborative Capacities, Exeter, EX2 4DG, UK.
Andrzej KlimczukSGH Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw, Poland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8072-1152
Ian D MarderMaynooth University, Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3293-7730
Daniel MilosavljevicManaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8690-0952
Josmel Pacheco-MendozaBibliometrics, Evidence Evaluation and Systematic Review Group (BEERS), Human Medicine Career, Universidad Cientifica del Sur, Lima, Peru.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2251-8092
Ursula PoolHealthy and Sustainable Settings Unit, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, England, PR1 2HE, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3658-3346
Simon RobinsonSwansea University, Swansea, Wales, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9228-006X
Lindsay C StringerDepartment of Environment and Geography, University of York, York, England, UK.
Steve TaylorAngelWings Ltd, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Anne H ToomeyPace University, New York, New York, USA.
Daniela MartinInstitute for Methods Innovation, Dublin, D02 XE80, Ireland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3605-2799
Lisa Louise Taylor-SaylesInstitute for Methods Innovation, Dublin, D02 XE80, Ireland.
Andrew N Makohon-GeorgeInstitute for Methods Innovation, Dublin, D02 XE80, Ireland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7270-2384
Russell T RodrigoInstitute for Methods Innovation, Dublin, D02 XE80, Ireland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9747-0865

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The need for ethical guidelines that support and empower researchers who aim to enhance the societal impact of research has become critical. Recognizing the growing emphasis on research impact by governments and funding bodies worldwide, this article investigates the often overlooked ethical dimensions of generating and evaluating research impact. We focus on ethical issues and practices that are specific to the process of intentionally working to develop societal impacts from research. We highlight the complexities and ethical dilemmas encountered when researchers engage with non-academic groups, such as policymakers, industries, and local communities. Through a combination of literature review and insights from participatory workshops, the article identifies key issues and offers a new ethical framework for responsible research impact. This framework aims to guide researchers and institutions through the process of limiting potential harm while delivering societal benefits in a way that is realistic and balanced. The aim is to establish ethical practices for engagement and impact, without making the process so onerous that researchers are less likely to undertake such activities. The article concludes with actionable recommendations for policymakers, research funders, research performing organizations, institutional review boards and/or ethics committees, and individual researchers. Making use of such recommendations can foster an ethically responsible approach to research impact across academic disciplines.

Indexed as

community engagementethical guidelinespolicy engagementpublic engagementresearch ethicsresearch impactresearch integritystakeholder analysis

Identifiers

PMID40547537
PMCPMC12181762

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.