Alternative Research Outcomes (AROs) are research endpoints that go beyond traditional written publications, taking many different formats, such as documentaries, DIY tutorials, public exhibitions, podcasts, zines, and more. AROs are intentionally designed in specific forms to translate, communicate, and extend research insights in ways that are meaningful to intended audiences.
As researchers who practice AROs, we pursue “unaligned” values, such as fluidity, community-focused values and objectives, and responsibility, dimensions that traditional knowledge-creation practices in academia often do not or struggle to capture.
There is growing interest and initiative within the HCI and Design community to work with many different forms of research endpoints.
To explore and acknowledge the efforts, impacts, contributions, and values of these alternative outcomes of research, we have been engaging with a number of researchers -- ranging from master's and PhD students to senior scholars and practitioners -- in discussing and developing the concept of ARO.
At ACM DIS 2023, we hosted our first workshop on ARO.
We have analyzed and identified the following four key characteristics of AROs:
Translational: AROs bridge the gap between research findings and the audience's understanding.
Situational: AROs are grounded in specific contexts, positionality and audience.
Transparent: AROs reflect and reveal openness, limitations, trade-offs and assumptions in the research process.
Initiatory: AROs bring audiences into ongoing interaction and discussion.
We acknowledge that we are not the ones who came up with this concept. Therefore, our important goal is to keep hosting channels and platforms for engaging with many other researchers and practitioners already working on or passionate about this initiative.
Join us in this growing community as we continue to explore, expand, and re-define the value, impact and boundaries of AROs within and beyond the academic circle.