TABLE 3.

Societal functions of SSH knowledge.

Roles	Description	Example	#Codes
Explain	To describe and contextualize an issue.	“It is always about identifying—understanding—explaining and providing contextual knowledge. That is always of importance” (Economy_ID132, 10).	77
Reflect	To discuss and interpret an issue.	“What does it mean that one part of the population can work from home in a relatively safe manner, while another part of the population cannot, and is thus potentially more exposed?” (NGO_ID85, 25).	65
Educate	To build competence in a specific area.	“[SSH] should develop intercultural competences” (Media_ID180, 15).	7
Signal	To point to an issue.	“Impulses for necessary discourses can and should also come from [SSH] research” (NGO_ID200, 10).	20
Foresee	To predict the development of an issue.	“The potential implications of current research have societal relevance—technological developments such as CRISPR Cas 9 or AI should be discussed more widely in society so that we can negotiate ethical issues raised by the introduction of such technologies early enough” (Intermediary_ID174, 10).	21
Inform	To support decision-making.	“Solid analyses of socio-political developments, numerical data, and impact assessments are needed in politics and administration. They are picked up on and incorporated into decision-making” (PublicAdmin_ID61, 16).	80