Work

Increasing Citizen Participation and Legitimacy: A Scoping Review on Effectiveness Indicators Used in the Evaluation of Living Labs

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Evaluation is a fractioned area of the Living Labs (LLs) literature, with criticisms warning against a lack of evidence on its effectiveness. This scoping review aimed to map the effectiveness indicators employed for the evaluation of LLs. Accordingly, we searched ten electronic databases for peer-reviewed and grey literature that outlined indicators to assess the effectiveness of LLs, and screened them following Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Of the screened studies, only 29 included an evaluation of LLs’ effectiveness (2.33%) as an assessment of type and scope of impact yielded, or the appraisal of contextual influencing factors. Indicators of impact types were the most widely regarded, with particular attention paid to tangible impacts, rather than intangible impacts. The scope of impact was mainly assessed in terms of social and value significance. This scoping review described the fundamental role of evaluation in nourishing the internal functioning of LLs, while legitimizing its social and political value. Future research needs to pursue ways of integrating evaluation as a key part of LLs and to reflect on LL’s ontological and epistemological roots to strengthen and legitimize their use.

Source: Journal of Participatory Research Methods

DOI: 10.35844/001c.145780

Authors: Paolo Martinelli, Nina Canova, Francesca Bosisio

Institutions: HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Haute école d'ingénierie et de gestion du canton de Vaud, HES-SO Haute Ecole Spécialisée de Suisse Occidentale

Language: English

Topic: Innovative Approaches in Technology and Social Development

Subfield: Management of Technology and Innovation

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Haute école Spécialisée de Suisse Occidentale

OpenAlex ID: W4416889908