Identifying the Relevance of Research Goals through Collecting Citizens’ Voices on Social Media

Abstract

Recent debates on the meaning and use of science are focused on addressing citizens’ needs or concerns of society in different fields. Researchers have developed different methodologies for capturing the relevance of topics to be addressed by research in order to map them. This article proposes a new methodology for identifying the relevance of research goals through collecting citizen’s voices on Twitter and Facebook combing two approaches: top down, starting with already defined research goals priorities, and bottom up, departing from the social media. The article presents the results of the application of this methodology through the research goals of Sustainable Development Goals to identify their relevance and if there are some topics not covered by them. Thus, researchers could integrate this methodology in their daily work and be more in line with the needs expressed by citizens in social media.