Full Description
This unique addition to the Success in Research series addresses the importance of understanding and achieving impact for the purposes of gaining research funding and reporting achieved impact for the Research Excellence Framework (REF).
The book includes contributions from researchers and researcher developers who feel that impact is ill-defined and poorly understood despite its prevalence in policy documents, websites and institutional activities. This succinct and cohesive text draws on the expert contributors' collective research practice, knowledge and experience.
Using a variety of examples, boxed activities and highlighted reflection points, this practical guide covers the following key areas:
The meaning of impact in relation to research
How the Impact Agenda fits with attitudes and ethics that motivate research
The different characterisations of research impact and when impact is apparent
How impact can be planned into proposals, evaluated and evidenced
The skills needed to be an impactful researcher
How impact can be supported through Knowledge Exchange and effective partnerships
This is a must-have guide for anyone seeking to understand and achieve impact in their own research.
The Success in Research series, from Cindy Becker and Pam Denicolo, provides short, authoritative and accessible guides on key areas of professional and research development.
Avoiding jargon and cutting to the chase of what you really need to know, these practical and supportive books cover a range of areas from presenting research to achieving impact, and from publishing journal articles to developing proposals. They are essential reading for any student or researcher interested in developing their skills and broadening their professional and methodological knowledge in an academic context.
Contents
What is the meaning of impact in relation to research and why does it matter? A view from inside academia - Colin Chandler
What is the meaning of the Impact Agenda - is it a repackaged or a new entity? Views from inside the Research Councils - Sophie Payne-Gifford
How does the Impact Agenda fit with attitudes and ethics that motivate research? - Jennifer Chubb
What are the different characteristics of research impact? - Jo Lakey, Geoff Rodgers and Rosa Scoble
When might research impact be apparent? - Christopher Wood
How can impact be planned into research proposals? - Rob Daley and Sara Shinton
How can impact evaluation be planned? - Tony Bromley and André de Campos
How can impact be evidenced: practical methods? - Tony Bromley
What skills are needed to be an impactful researcher? - Jennifer Chubb
How can knowledge exchange support the development of impact through partnerships and university infrastructures? - Andy Jackson
How can you become an impactful researcher? - Ellen Pearce and Pam Denicolo
Appendix I A special case: researcher development and the work of the impact and evaluation group - Christopher Wood and Pam Denicolo
Appendix II An illustration of the Researcher Development Framework (Vitae)
Appendix III The pathways to impact framework provided by RCUK
Glossary
