Introduction
What is research impact?
"Research impact is the demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy. Impact embraces all the extremely diverse ways in which research-related knowledge and skills benefit individuals, organizations and nations including academic, economic, and societal impacts...” (Research Councils UK)
Why measure or describe your research impact?
- Strengthen your application for promotion or tenure.
- Quantify return on research investment for grant renewals and progress reports.
- Increase likelihood of future funding by illustrating the value of your research.
- Identify who is using your work and confirm that it is appropriately credited.
- Identify collaborators within or outside of your discipline.
- Benchmark yourself, research group, department, or institution to current or aspirational peers.
- Show your individual or collective productivity.
- Measure how others have cited your work in publications and patents.
- Showcase your network of collaborators.
This guide provides basic information to get you started, an overview of the more common measures, tools you can use to understand research impact, and tips for how to maximize research impact. For more information or assistance, meet with a librarian or Ask Us.