In the dynamic landscape of modern academia, the concept of “impact” has become an increasingly active aspect of research. Impact is most simply shorthanded to the “provable effects (benefits) of research in the ‘real world’”. Yet, its meaning, application, and implications can sometimes appear nebulous, even daunting, to researchers and research managers.
As an advocate for enhancing research impact, I believe that understanding and cultivating “impact literacy”(Bayley and Phipps, 2017*; 2019**) is essential. Only by understanding what impact is and how the research-society connection works can we really drive meaningful change.
Our concept of impact literacy was born in 2017, and extended in 2019, and consists of 4 elements:
The practices that create impact (the ‘how’)
- The identification, assessment, evidencing and articulation of impact endpoints (the ‘what’), and
- The successful integration of these by various people (the ‘who’), to generate social change.
…all rooted on the reasons, purpose and values (‘why’) the impact is needed. Individual impact literacy focuses on the development of increasingly advanced understanding of impact, whilst institutional literacy reflects the depth of supportive infrastructure needed for an impact culture to thrive. Ultimately, impact literacy is a call to centralise meaningful benefit within the impact agenda, with individuals and institutions alike working towards critical and organisationally supported activity.
Impact literacy is not just a desirable skill set; it’s a critical framework for ensuring that research achieves its fullest potential. By understanding who is involved, what it entails, how it can be achieved, and why it matters, we can better navigate the path from academic inquiry to meaningful societal impact. This journey requires dedication, strategic planning, and a collaborative mindset, but the rewards – for researchers, institutions, and society – are profound.
The concept of impact literacy is about understanding the processes, skills, and knowledge required to create, assess, and communicate the impact of research. The paper highlights the importance of researchers being well-versed in how their work can make a tangible difference beyond academia, influencing policy, practice, and society at large.
he authors propose a structured approach to developing impact literacy through:
- Education and Training: Providing researchers with the necessary training to understand impact pathways and how to effectively communicate their research.
- Institutional Support: Encouraging institutions to create environments that support impact activities, including providing resources and recognizing impact-related efforts in academic evaluations.
- Collaborations: Promoting collaborations between researchers and stakeholders outside academia to ensure that research addresses real-world needs and is disseminated effectively.
Why: The primary motivation for fostering impact literacy is to ensure that research achieves its full potential in contributing to societal good. Impact literacy enables researchers to:
- Maximize the Relevance and Usefulness of Research: By understanding the needs of stakeholders and tailoring research outputs accordingly.
- Enhance Funding Opportunities: As funding bodies increasingly require evidence of impact, being impact literate can improve grant success rates.
- Promote Career Development: Impact activities can enhance a researcher’s profile and career prospects by demonstrating their contribution to societal challenges.
Overall, the paper argues that by embedding impact literacy within the research culture, the academic community can ensure that research outcomes are not only academically robust but also practically beneficial to society (Emerald) (Emerald) (Emerald) (Emerald).
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Individual and Institutional Impact Literacy (Bayley and Phipps, 2019)
References
*Bayley, J.E. and Phipps, D., 2019. Building the concept of research impact literacy. Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice, 15(4), pp.597-606. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1332/174426417X15034894876108
**Bayley J and Phipps D. Extending the concept of research impact literacy: levels of literacy, institutional role and ethical considerations [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]. Emerald Open Res 2019, 1:14
Julie Bayley 