Research that makes a differenceBrighton Doctoral College Training

Ms Fran Seballos

Research Impact Manager

Research Services

f.seballos@brighton.ac.uk

Workshop objectives

By the end of the workshop you will:

• Have a clearer understanding of the nature of non-academic impact, and be able to articulate how it relates to your own work

• Understand the importance of embedding impact throughout research processes and explore strategies for maximising the impact potential of your work

• Consider the challenges to developing impact and strategies to overcome them

Contents

• Introduction – impact and ‘me’• What is impact? Why is impact important?• Impact in the context of a PhD• Impact types and frameworks• Routes to impact • Further resources and questions

Individual exercise and discussion

Inspiration, Investigation and ImpactOr ‘why I do what I do’

“The impact generated through my research has had fundamental implications for my career, both in terms of contributing to my identity as an academic and recognition within the non-academic arena. Engaging beyond academia is an increasingly important aspect of our lives as academics and generating research which can change policy and practices and that can contribute to community development remains one of the most inspiring aspects of my profession."

Marina NovelliProfessor of Tourism and International Development

“‘I believe it is integral to my career as a researcher. It is more important than anything else. If my work can bring about change, I have achieved what research is all about. If my work has not achieved change, it could perhaps still be useful and perhaps not, a cloud hangs over it’.

Professor SomnathMukhopadhyay

Chair of Paediatrics, Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS)

What is impact and why is it important in academia?

“Research improves lives… It brings benefits to individuals and societies, as beneficiaries of research and through a sustained engagement

between researchers and their publics…It inspires people of all ages, firing the imaginations of our future researchers and feeding the skills and

knowledge that are essential to the UK’s economy” UKRI

UKRI Definition of Impact

Academic impact

The demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to academic advances, across and within disciplines, including significant advances in understanding, methods, theory and application.

Economic and societal impacts

The demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy of benefit to individuals, organisations and nations

UKRI Pathways to ImpactUKRI grants ask you to fill in an ‘Impact Summary’ and a ‘Pathways to Impact’

The Impact Summary asks you to address two questions:

Who might benefit from the research?How they might benefit?

The Pathways to Impact is a two page document following on from the Impact Summary and asks you to show

What will be done to realise the potential impacts?

•Deliverables and milestones•Mechanisms or activities to generate impact (exploitation, engagement, co-production)

Funder expectations

REF Definition of Impact“an effect on, change or benefit to the

economy, society, culture, public policy or

services, health, the environment or quality

of life, beyond academia”

Impact includes, but is not limited to, an effect on, change or benefit to:

• the activity, attitude, awareness, behaviour, capacity, opportunity, performance, policy, practice, process or understanding

• of an audience, beneficiary, community, constituency, organisation or individuals

• in any geographic location whether locally, regionally, nationally or internationally.

REF Case Study

• Impact Summary (100 words)• Underpinning Research – The

nature of the research insights or findings which relate to the impact claimed in the case study, including what is original or distinctive about the work

• Research Outputs and Contributing Grants

• Impact Narrative - A clear explanation of the process or means through which the research led to, underpinned or made a contribution to the impact; Details of the beneficiaries; Details of the nature and extent of the impact

• Evidence Sources to corroborate

Evaluated in terms of ‘reach’ and ‘significance’

Ranked 27th out of 128 for world-leading research impact, placing us in the top 25% in the sector

UoB ranked 27th out of 128 for world-leading research impact, placing us in the top 25% in the sector

Impact Claims (REF2014)

‘The development of software solutions for transportation problems has directly led to the growth and commercial success of a niche software company through the development of an information management tool for better decision making’

‘Researcher x has intervened in contemporary issues of legality by advising government bodies’

‘Third sector and media attention has taken the research to a wider community’

‘This research has facilitated greater public understanding of the causes and consequences of political violence in Ireland’

Discussion: Impact yes or no?

Impact is not...• Purely dissemination/reach• Related to journal impact factors• Based on indicators of esteem• A one-way process• Restricted only to applied disciplines• Based solely on media/social media

citations• Uptake• Public engagement activities that are not

underpinned by excellent research

Why is impact important?Research can be improved by engaging with a broad range of

potential beneficiaries = quality

Shortening time to benefits, and increasing the impact we know our investments have = maximising benefits

It enhances UK attractiveness for research and innovation investment = reputation.

Spending public money means demonstrating the benefits of that investment to society = accountability

• To tackle local, national and global challenges and inform positive change

• Increases competitiveness of UK economy• Provides evidence against ‘anti-expert’ rhetoric• Supports University identity and marketing.

“Impact is a state of mind – it drives all my research activity as a sociologist who wants to improve social life. Working with community partners (thanks to CUPP) makes the research process smooth and easy – new ideas and approaches emerge from the conversations and activities we do together. This has directly led to funding successes as it’s easier to demonstrate an awareness of the key issues the research will address. It’s a virtuous circle.”

Mark Doidge, Senior Research Fellow, School of Sport and Service Management

Impact and the PhD researcher

Why is impact important to you as a research student?

This image cannot currently be displayed.

How is impact related to MY research?

Your research

Your professional

networks

Your academic outputs

Your employability

Your skills

• Peer-reviewed journal articles• Oral/ poster presentations at

conferences• Your PhD thesis!

• Contribution to REF Impact Case Study

• Disseminating your work • Affecting evidence/ methodology in your

topic area• Strengthens relationships with

stakeholders

• Presenting to non-academic audiences

• Writing for non-academic audiences (e.g. blog)

• ‘Selling’ your research

• Developing your personality• Making the most of networks

• Profile raising• Securing a job

• Career progression/Promotions

16

Tips and actions during and post-PhD• Kick-start your professional visibility, perceived

legitimacy, and credibility

• Mobilise social media effectively e.g. write for your institution or prestigious blogs such as The Conversation

• Build your Networks – get out there, talk, connect, interact with academia and ‘industry’

• Seek out learning opportunities through your institution and others, including informal mentors,

• Regularly reflect on your research with other research students and interested contacts/users

• Identify the knowledge exchange that needs to continue after your PhD and consider how to generate long-term impacts.

• Translate your findings into usable materials to bridge the gap into the next stage project

RECOMMENDED READING

An introduction to achieving policy impact for early career researchers Megan C Evans & Christopher Cvitanovic (2018) Palgrave Communications volume 4, 88

Researcher Development FrameworkThis wheel encompasses ‘the knowledge, intellectual abilities,techniques and professional standards to do research, as well as the personal qualities, knowledge and skills to work with others and ensure the wider impact of research’. www.vitae.ac.uk/rdf

Challenges • Can impact be planned?

• Fundamental research with no clear application

• Time lag between research and impact

• Resources to support engagement work

• Emergent reputation and professional networks that are still in development.

• Job insecurity / extreme mobility as ECR

• Diversifying skills

• External and contextual factors

• Managing complex projects with complex impacts

• Evidencing impact – Measurement and assessment of the unmeasurable

• Attribution vs. Contribution

• Politics of ‘evidence’ –who’s evidence counts and who’s counting the evidence

“We want to you to explore, from the outset and throughout the life of your project and beyond, who could potentially benefit from your research and what you can do to help make this happen” UKRI

Impact types and frameworks

RCUK Impact College of Arts & Humanities

Multiple dimensions of impact Be aware that your research may have multiple dimensions of impact.

Examples

Research underpinning a new medical intervention could lead to increased profits and employment for a business commercialising the research, cost savings for the NHS, and improved quality of life for patients.

Research that aims to better opportunites for women in Asia could change organisational practice of NGOs, lead to revised government and human relations policies and lead to greater equality and wellbeing within families and communities.

Routes to impact

Routes to impact

• Internal and external funding

• Dissemination

• Use of and engagement with Media

• Intermediaries or other organisations

• Non-academic publications

• Accessible tools, models, frameworks

• Partnership building

• Community engagement

• Public engagement that is two-way

• Infrastructural support

REF Impacts stemmed from research in a wide range of subject areas with over 3,700 unique pathways from research

to impact identified

Simple strategies to manage impact

• Begin with the end, and consider different stages along the way.

• Don’t restrict plans to short term only

• Plan delivery of knowledge and routes to impact

• Think broadly and creatively as well as specifically and pragmatically

• Consider likely outcomes and possible beneficiaries

• Consider user needs. Buy in from stakeholders can help to ensure success.

• Start building new partnerships and networks

• Plan well, determine goals and reduce barriers

• Create feedback opportunities and stages of evaluation (for yourself and users)

Impact film: Water Quality

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-nICK2XaNs

Who?

Audience

BeneficiariesUsers

Understanding tools of ‘engagement’

Dissemination: a one-way process of information sharing with a wider audience (including academic) and to stakeholders and the public

Engagement: a form of knowledge exchange, finding ways to bring beneficiaries and users into the research process, asking questions and sharing emergent insights

Coproduction: developing and delivering a research programme in partnership with others (e.g. PAR) - often with beneficiaries, but can involve users. N.B risk that users have pre-conceived solutions, rather than allowing the research to develop

Exercise

Engaging for impact…• Who?• Why? • How? methods• When / WhereUnderstanding stakeholders, beneficiaries and audiences for your research and developing appropriate ‘pathways to impact’

Key elements of approach to impact

• Impact is non-linear and can have both intended and unintended outcomes which may be positive and/or negative

• Considering the significance and need of the research

• Ensuring research is relevant

• Flexibility and fluidity

• Research impacts on users just as users shape our research –coproduction at its best

• Responsive to diverse needs of user groups and beneficiaries

• Building long-lasting partnerships for mutual benefit

• Knowledge exchange as a two way exchange. Co-production rather than passive dissemination

• Building enterprising activities into research plans

College of Arts & Humanities

Top tips for evidencing impact

• Evidence gathering should be planned in the same way that you plan your research and impact

• Be reflective about the types of impact you’ve achieved/may achieve and the most appropriate evidence

• Keep in touch with partners and contacts and manage their expectations in terms of contacting them for testimonials in the future

• Look to see what evidence might already be available before trying to create new evidence, e.g. Does a company you’ve worked with have an annual report with any relevant information?

• Be aware of the importance of supporting material that shows the significance/context/need. Although this is not specifically evidence of impact it does help with the story.

Impact Bingo!

Summary• PLAN - Identify your impact goals – academic and non-academic, and

regularly reflect on research progress and review impact goals

• MAP - Identify and understand your stakeholders’ motivations, interests and needs

• INVOLVE – where appropriate seek ways to involve potential beneficiaries in the research process, respecting research ethics at all times

• ENGAGE - create opportunities for knowledge exchange that supports user buy-in and interest in research outcomes and allows you to ensure contextual relevance

• TARGET - Plan appropriate outputs in relation to specific audiences, including interim products where appropriate. Understand how to tell stories - or work with those who do.

• (£) RESOURCE - Ensure resources are allocated to support engagement

• (£) COLLABORATE - Build partnerships that are multi-skilled (you do not have to ‘do it all alone’)

• RESPOND - Be prepared to maximise opportunity windows

• DOCUMENT and evidence your impact

Further Resources REF database of case studies http://impact.ref.ac.uk/CaseStudies/

UKRI guidance and tools on public engagement https://www.ukri.org/public-engagement/research-council-partners-and-public-engagement-with-research/guides-policies-research-and-publications/

UK Government position on how parliament uses research for policy https://www.parliament.uk/research-impact

National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/

LSE Blog and toolkit http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/

Fast Track Impact http://www.fasttrackimpact.com/

Publication on the coproduction of research and impact through research communication http://bulletin.ids.ac.uk/idsbo/issue/view/29

Further Questions?

Thank You