Changing Knowledge Production in the Brain & Cognition Research Field

Abstract

The knowledge production process is subject to change. The view on research and knowledge is changing. Research is increasingly expected to have social and/or economic relevance. Society demands wider public accountability for (public funded) research. Furthermore, knowledge is increasingly perceived as an important driver for economic growth. Empirical studies to this changing knowledge production process are lacking, while it has strong implications for science policy as the changes and dynamics are field specific.

This thesis aims to contribute to the theory and methodology on the changing knowledge production. A framework and method for empirically analysing the changing patterns of the knowledge production process in scientific fields are developed. The field of brain and cognition serves as a case in this study. Consequently, this thesis contributes to a better understanding of the dynamics of and interactions in the brain and cognition knowledge production process.

The framework for analysing the patterns of change in the knowledge production process is build with the 5 major attributes of the Mode 2 theory combined with the 3 levels of the complex adaptive system, and assisted by the concepts of search regimes and the science-society contract. This combination takes the whole system of knowledge production, including its dynamics and interactions, into account.

A comprehensive dataset is analysed, which contains both quantitative and qualitative data: bibliometric data, data from 13 semi-structured in-depth interviews, popular media publications, research programme descriptions and calls for proposals. The combination of these data enables a multidimensional analysis that covers both global and local dynamics.

The results show that the knowledge production process is indeed changing, in line with the commonly acknowledged trends. Brain and cognition knowledge is produced in an interactive, interdisciplinary and international way; in close relation to society; and with attention to social relevance and accountability. The lack of increased importance of economic accountability and industrial participation confirms the field specificity of the changing patterns. Subsequently, specific recommendations for science policy are provided. Furthermore, the developed framework and method prove to be useful heuristics for an empirical analysis of the changing patterns in the knowledge production process in a scientific field.