Scientists’ answers to open- and closed-ended questions about priority audiences, behavioral goals, and communication objectives

The available evidence on what scientists want to achieve from communication comes largely from closed-ended survey responses that constrain what scientists can report. In contrast, the current study provides secondary analyses of open-ended responses to questions embedded within a survey focused on how scientists strategically think about communication. Consistent with past research, the results suggest that, when asked, scientists say they want to prioritize audiences who can use their research, that they want their insights used, and that they are willing to share information that makes such use more likely. However, the open-ended responses also suggest that many of the outcomes that scientists rate as priorities when using closed-ended questions receive only limited attention in open-ended responses. Such results suggest that scientists may benefit from receiving support when they are identifying and prioritizing communication outcomes to ensure they are considering the full range of potential communication audiences and outcomes.