Conceptualizing The Ideas-Informed Society

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  In Roundtable Session: The Future Of Research-Informed Education? Building Societies Resilient To Misinformation And Polarization

Abstract

This paper proposes a theoretical framework to support the development of ‘ideas-informed societies’—communities where citizens critically engage with ideas to improve outcomes. Drawing on interdisciplinary theory, it identifies three drivers of ideas engagement: a prospective mindset, social network structures, and education. The framework emerges through conceptual analysis, supported by insights from prior empirical studies and UK survey data. These sources are used to illustrate how individuals access, evaluate, and act on information. The model suggests that enhancing future-oriented thinking, strengthening social capital, and broadening educational access are key to promoting informed idea engagement. It offers a foundation for future empirical testing and the development of interventions aimed at fostering more critically engaged, informed publics.

Author

• Chris Brown, University of Southampton