{"id":23563,"date":"2024-06-17T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-17T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.avdheshsharma.com\/springer-nature-highlights-need-to-support-japanese-researchers-in-sharing-findings-after-publication\/"},"modified":"2024-07-30T13:22:16","modified_gmt":"2024-07-30T13:22:16","slug":"springer-nature-highlights-need-to-support-japanese-researchers-in-sharing-findings-after-publication","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/springer-nature-highlights-need-to-support-japanese-researchers-in-sharing-findings-after-publication","title":{"rendered":"Springer Nature highlights need to support Japanese researchers in sharing findings after publication"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A recent survey<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> by research publishing giant<\/span><\/span><\/span> Springer Nature shows that <\/span><\/span><\/span>around a third of<\/span><\/span><\/span> researchers in Japan are unsure how to share their research beyond academic publications and presentations<\/span><\/span><\/span>, despite understanding the critical need communicate the<\/span><\/span><\/span>ir<\/span><\/span><\/span> research outside of these academic venues. Given that research communication is vital to <\/span><\/span><\/span>involving scientists<\/span><\/span><\/span> in policymaking and <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>maximizing <\/span><\/span><\/span>societal <\/span><\/span><\/span>benefits<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>,<\/span><\/span><\/span> how can stakeholders<\/span><\/span><\/span> further support the<\/span><\/span><\/span> reach and impact of Japan<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/span>s research community?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Key insights from<\/span><\/span><\/span> the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Researcher Engagement in Research Communication in Japan<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>survey<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The survey was conducted<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> in <\/span><\/span><\/span>January<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2013<\/span><\/span><\/span>February 2023 and focused on scientists in all types of institutions in Japan, yielding 1063 valid responses. The recipients came from all age groups, with researchers over the age of 55 <\/span><\/span><\/span>representing<\/span><\/span><\/span> 46% of all responses.<\/span><\/span><\/span> The lion<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/span>s share (53%) were university faculty members<\/span><\/span><\/span>, and <\/span><\/span><\/span>the vast majority of<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> respondents (<\/span><\/span><\/span>92%) were in STEM or medicine fields. <\/span><\/span><\/span>The survey was offered in English and Japanese, with <\/span><\/span><\/span>almost all<\/span><\/span><\/span> respondents replying in Japanese<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Japan<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/span>s r<\/span><\/span><\/span>esearchers understand the benefits of communication<\/span><\/span><\/span>, but rarely do it<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Researchers overwhelming<\/span><\/span><\/span>ly<\/span><\/span><\/span> see <\/span><\/span><\/span>research<\/span><\/span><\/span> communication as important (94%)<\/span><\/span><\/span>; overall, 90% agreed that it is both important and something that interests them.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Des<\/span><\/span><\/span>pite this, 21% have not communicated in the last three years and 12% had never communicated research in their career.<\/span><\/span><\/span> O<\/span><\/span><\/span>f those who had communicated, 37% said it was only <\/span><\/span><\/span>one to three<\/span><\/span><\/span> times over three years.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Overall, this shows a low rate of engagement, with only 30% <\/span><\/span><\/span>communicating more than once annually over the survey period.<\/span><\/span><\/span> This discrepancy <\/span><\/span><\/span>suggests that Japanese researchers <\/span><\/span><\/span>may experience <\/span><\/span><\/span>structural difficulties that make it difficult to <\/span><\/span><\/span>communicate research, rather than lacking the will to do so.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Researchers proactively assess impact<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Of 710 respondents, 81% asses<\/span><\/span><\/span>sed the impact of their publications<\/span><\/span><\/span> by some means, with tracking of citations and download<\/span><\/span><\/span> numbers<\/span><\/span><\/span> being popular<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Of note, researchers who communicated only in Jap<\/span><\/span><\/span>anese both had lower rates of assessment and used fewer <\/span><\/span><\/span>metrics to assess the<\/span><\/span><\/span> reach and impact of their papers<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Strong focus on the public, less on<\/span><\/span><\/span> policymakers and funders<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Around 73% of re<\/span><\/span><\/span>spondents who targeted their communication focused on the <\/span><\/span><\/span>general public<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span><\/span>while 61% focused on <\/span><\/span><\/span>their<\/span><\/span><\/span> research community. In contrast, only 15%<\/span><\/span><\/span> and 12%<\/span><\/span><\/span> targeted policymakers and funders<\/span><\/span><\/span>, respectively<\/span><\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Additionally, 64% prioritized research that is of interest to society<\/span><\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span>While it is heartening to see Japan<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/span>s researchers<\/span><\/span><\/span> hoping to<\/span><\/span><\/span> keep the public <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/span><\/span>in the loop,<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span> these findings show that they may be missing opportunities to <\/span><\/span><\/span>maximize their societal impact and court <\/span><\/span><\/span>additional<\/span><\/span><\/span> funding<\/span><\/span><\/span> by not engaging<\/span><\/span><\/span> people in positions of authority<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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However, there is a major <\/span><\/span><\/span>caveat<\/span><\/span><\/span> here<\/span><\/span><\/span>. Around<\/span><\/span><\/span> half<\/span><\/span><\/span> of researchers <\/span><\/span><\/span>indicated<\/span><\/span><\/span> that <\/span><\/span><\/span>they would be more likely to communicate<\/span><\/span><\/span> their research<\/span><\/span><\/span> if <\/span><\/span><\/span>this communication is acknowledged as a research achievement<\/span><\/span><\/span> by their institutions and funders<\/span><\/span><\/span>, which means that<\/span><\/span><\/span> researchers who receive incentives to communicate<\/span><\/span><\/span> would be more likely to keep their stakeholders informed on their communication efforts.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Barriers<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Around<\/span><\/span><\/span> 66% found writing in plain language to be a major challenge. <\/span><\/span><\/span>This is supported by the 77% of respondents who felt tha<\/span><\/span><\/span>t they need more support in carrying out effective resea<\/span><\/span><\/span>r<\/span><\/span><\/span>ch communication.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Other common gripes were being unsure of the right medium and <\/span><\/span><\/span>difficulty <\/span><\/span><\/span>creating appealing visuals or narratives.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Half of respondents <\/span><\/span><\/span>said they receive support from the<\/span><\/span><\/span>ir institution<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span><\/span> communication\/<\/span><\/span><\/span>public relations<\/span><\/span><\/span> team, but f<\/span><\/span><\/span>ewer than 20% of respondents were aware of <\/span><\/span><\/span>other <\/span><\/span><\/span>resources provided by their organization<\/span><\/span><\/span>, such as <\/span><\/span><\/span>assistance<\/span><\/span><\/span> in writing plain language summaries<\/span><\/span><\/span> or communication skills training<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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While <\/span><\/span><\/span>difficulties in communicating in languages besides Japanese was not surveyed,<\/span><\/span><\/span> only a small majority (52%) made <\/span><\/span><\/span>some <\/span><\/span><\/span>use of English in their research communications<\/span><\/span><\/span> compared to<\/span><\/span><\/span> 96% who used Japanese<\/span><\/span><\/span> wholly or exclusively. This may <\/span><\/span><\/span>represent<\/span><\/span><\/span> either a strong focus on domestic audiences or <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>difficulty in communicating in English<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Japan <\/span><\/span><\/span>has <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>well-document<\/span><\/span><\/span>ed<\/span><\/span><\/span> deficiencies<\/span><\/span><\/span> in English communication<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, which can certainly limit engagement with international audiences.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Insights<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Looking outside <\/span><\/span><\/span>Galapagos<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Japanese commentators <\/span><\/span><\/span>often<\/span><\/span><\/span> refer to Japan<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/span>s <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Galapagos Syndrome<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>\u2014<\/span><\/span><\/span>the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>tendency to develop<\/span><\/span><\/span> unique<\/span><\/span><\/span> products<\/span><\/span><\/span>, practices,<\/span><\/span><\/span> or services that thrive within Japan but<\/span><\/span><\/span> sometimes <\/span><\/span><\/span>fail to<\/span><\/span><\/span> gain widespread adoption outside<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Th<\/span><\/span><\/span>is<\/span><\/span><\/span> mirrors the Galapagos Islands, <\/span><\/span><\/span>an isolated environment with unique environmental traits <\/span><\/span><\/span>whose fauna allowed Charles Darwin to gain insights into his theory of evolution by natural selection.<\/span><\/span><\/span> Th<\/span><\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Galapagos<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> tendency in the consumer economy <\/span><\/span><\/span>is in part due to Japan<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/span>s unique <\/span><\/span><\/span>customer<\/span><\/span><\/span> base and business culture<\/span><\/span><\/span>. Likewise, Japan has unique features in<\/span><\/span><\/span> its <\/span><\/span><\/span>research culture,<\/span><\/span><\/span> such as <\/span><\/span><\/span>its high proportion of researchers who work in privat<\/span><\/span><\/span>e institutions<\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Now that research is increasingly<\/span><\/span><\/span> an <\/span><\/span><\/span>international<\/span><\/span><\/span> endeavor<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span><\/span> stakeholders outside Japan have <\/span><\/span><\/span>a great opportunity<\/span><\/span><\/span> to help Japanese researchers make their voices here.<\/span><\/span><\/span> it may be worthwhile for international publishers<\/span><\/span><\/span> or collaborators<\/span><\/span><\/span> to <\/span><\/span><\/span>tailor their strategies to the Japanese research community. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Based on the<\/span><\/span><\/span>se<\/span><\/span><\/span> data,<\/span><\/span><\/span> some ideas<\/span><\/span><\/span> that can be implemented by stakeholders<\/span><\/span><\/span> include:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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