Research dissemination in the humanities

Dissemination is a crucial part of the research process. It is through dissemination that research results become accessible to the research community, decision-makers, and the broader public. However, this place demands on how the research is communicated. Poor research dissemination can lead to misunderstandings and undermine trust in both the research and the researchers.

The aim of the course is to equip doctoral candidates with the skills needed for responsible dissemination of humanities research. This will be achieved by addressing both principled and practical challenges related to disseminating research projects in the humanities in general, and their own doctoral projects in particular.

Principled challenges in disseminating humanities research include questions about the obligations researchers have when communicating their research, and the role that dissemination of humanities research plays in society. One set of questions concerns whether there is an obligation to disseminate research and which norms apply to research dissemination. Another set of questions concerns the relation between research dissemination and activism. More general issues have to do with whether there are fundamental differences between disseminating humanities research and research in for example the natural or social sciences.

Practical challenges related to humanities research dissemination include choosing the right channels and ensuring that the dissemination is adapted to the relevant context. This involves practical reflection on what the researcher wants to achieve with the dissemination, who the target audience is, and how one should tailor form and content accordingly. Here we also discuss how different dissemination channels function, and which one should use to communicate research. Since the media landscape is changing rapidly, often in tandem with political changes, the interplay between the principled and the practical challenges are emphasised.

Knowledge

After completing the course, the student should have:

• An overview of different views of academic responsibilities regarding dissemination
• Familiarity with genres, channels and platforms for dissemination
• An understanding of norms governing academic honesty and dissemination

Skills

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

• Identify and discuss principled and practical challenges related to research communication
• Evaluate and reflect on their own research communication and that of others
• Recognize ways in which their research influences or has relevance for the wider society
• Communicate their research and adapt research communication to media channels and audiences

Competence

After completing the course, the student should be competent to:

• Take part as an academic expert in public debate