Abstract

Success stories in social sciences and humanities (SSH) research have been shown to lead to improvement in many individuals’ lives to create a better society. Furthermore, there are research projects that have achieved distinct social impact. More than 25 years of interdisciplinary research-‐including education, psychology, sociology, and economics, among others-‐ have shown that SSH research can generate social transformation through such actions. But, what are these actions? What is the evidence of their success? How might they have social impact? And, can any of these be measured? This seminar will address these questions. Some answers have already been published in the Cambridge Journal of Education paper that won the Best Paper Prize 2013. Both authors, Professors Ramon Flecha and Marta Soler, will discuss some of these findings as well as examples from their current research in the IMPACT -‐EV FP7 European project. This is developing a permanent system of selection, monitoring and evaluation of the scientific, political and, particularly, social impact of SSH research. Expanding the research on successful actions and deepening the measurement of their impact in education should enable us to create more opportunities for social transformation