Methodologies for research impact
As funders increasingly require evidence the benefit of the research that they have supported, interest grows in methodologies to best assess these benefits and plan to ensure that they are achieved.
This section presents methodologies for both the planning and the assessment of research impact with focus being beyond the academic environment. As research even within specific disciplines is vastly varied so too are the benefits or perceived benefits of these efforts which immediately poses a dilemma in planning for, but also in the comprehensive assessment of research impact. This dilemma has given rise to different approaches for measuring and assessment of research impact.
Planning for research impact increases the likelihood of the research making a positive difference in the world. Resources for impact planning help researchers to identify who in society will likely benefit from the research that they are undertaking, decide how researchers can connect with the right people to ensure that the impacts are achieved, engage these stakeholders in the research process and relay to others about the potential impact.
Concerning the assessment or evaluation of research impact, much have been written about and five broad types of research impact evaluation are commonly proposed (e.g. Reed et al., 2021):
- Systems analysis methods: pathways to impact, establishment of causation links, etc.
- Textual, oral and arts-based methods: case studies, interviews, testimonials, etc.
- Indicator-based approaches: focus on indicators or any type demonstration of impact from process of change.
- Evidence synthesis approaches: mixed evaluation methods to establish cause and effect.
Impact toolkits
Research Impact Toolkit (ENLIGHT. University of Galway)
Go to webGhent University impact toolkit for researchers (ENLIGHT. Ghent University)
Go to webBroader Impacts Toolkit. ARIS: Advancing Research Impact in Society
Go to webEuropeana Impact Playbook
Go to webImpact Resources. Vertigo Ventures
Go to webKnowledge Translation Tools. Melanie Barwick Consulting: Building Research Impact
Go to webLSE Impact Blog: a platform for understanding and increasing the impact of academic research
Go to webResearch Impact Canada: Turning Research Into Action
Go to webResearch to Action: The Global Guide to Research Impact
Go to webRRI Toolkit
Go to webUCD Research Impact Toolkit
Go to webImpact planning
Research Impact Toolkit: Plan (ENLIGHT. University of Galway)
Go to webEngaged Research Planning for Impact (Irish Universities Association (IUA) Campus Engage)
DownloadFast Track Impact Planning Template (Professor Mark Reed, Newcastle University)
Go to webImpact Literacy Workbook: Helping you demonstrate the provable effects of your research in the real world
DownloadStakeholder Analysis Template (Professor Mark Reed, Newcastle University)
Go to webSupporting PIs to Plan for Research Impact (Principal Investigator Impact, CÚRAM (Research Centre for Medical Devices)
Go to webTheory of Change (Center for Theory of Change)
Go to webUCD Research Impact Toolkit: Impact Planning Canvas
Go to webImpact measurement and assessment
Sustainable Development Goals Indicators
Go to webSDG Impact Assessment Tool (Gothenburg Centre for Sustainable Development)
Go to webHorizon Europe Key Impact Pathways
Go to webUK Research Excellence Framework
Go to webAustralia’s National Science Agency Impact Evaluation Guide
Go to webSan Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)
Go to webThe Leiden Manifesto for research metrics (Diana Hicks, Paul Wouters, Ludo Waltman, Sarah de Rikcke, Ismael Rafolds)
Go to webIRIS Catalog of metrics
Go to webNext generation metrics: Responsible metrics and evaluation for open science
Go to webAltmetric for Researchers
Go to webISRIA statement: ten-point guidelines for an effective process of research impact assessment
Go to webResearch Impact Toolkit: Monitor (ENLIGHT. University of Galway)
Go to webResearcher Impact Framework: Building Audience-Focused Evidence-Based Impact Narratives. Giovanna Lima, Sarah Bowman. Trinity College Dublin
Go to webHunter Medical Research Institute: Research Impact Assessment
Go to webMethods for analyzing collaboration and societal impact (The Swedish Research Council)
DownloadImpact Evaluation – Better Evaluation
Go to webHow Do You Know If You Are Making a Difference? A Practical Handbook for Public Service Organisations. Sarah Morton and Ailsa Cook. Matter of Focus.
Go to webImpactful research case studies
Horizon Results Platform
Go to webUK Research Excellence Framework – Case Studies
Go to webAustralian Research Council Impact Studies
Go to webSocial Impact Open Repository (SIOR)
Go to webSuccess stories about the impact of Ghent University research (ENLIGHT. Ghent University)
Go to webImpact of EU-funded research impact at Ghent University (ENLIGHT. Ghent University)
Go to webResearch Impact Case Studies (ENLIGHT. University of Galway)
Go to webImperial College London – Case Studies
Go to webUniversity College Dublin – Impact Case Studies
Go to webUniversity of Cambridge – Case Studies Worldwide Mapping
Go to webOther specific impact pathway approaches
Creating the conditions for uptake in higher education partnerships for sustainable development. VLIR-UOS
DownloadEvidence-informed policy making. European Commission
Go to webImpacttool. Erasmus+ Dutch National Agencies Erasmus+
Go to webPlanning your public engagement. Wellcome
Go to webPrincipal Investigator Impact: Research in Medical Devices
Go to webPublic Engagement Evaluation Toolkit. Queen Mary University of London
Go to webResources for high quality engagement. UK National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement
Go to web