1. Building Impact Cases Ian Boucher – Acting Lead for Knowledge Exchange and Impact

2. Overview What is an impact case Impact for the next REF Building a case

3. What is an Impact Case Impact Research 2* quality Research 2* quality Evidence

4. What is an Impact Case Narrative story – describes impact and research it is based on Pathway from research to impact Impact has to be a change that can be articulated – “interest” not usually enough Clear beneficiaries Evidence

5. Impact Creativity Culture and society Economy Commerce Environment Health and welfare Practitioners and professional services Public policy Law and services Organisational performance Impact Period: 2014-2020/1 Underpinning research period: 2000?-2020/1

6. Impact Case – Example 1 Knowledge Intensive Business Services as Innovators and Catalysts of Innovation in ‘Systems of Innovation’ Challenge/Context: Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS) are a sub-set of business service firms that are especially innovative and dynamic. How they act in and contribute to wider ‘systems of innovation’ was not understood. Solution/Activities: The research identified two important contributions that KIBS make to economic development: their direct contribution to growth by providing generally high quality employment, export earnings and innovation, and, their indirect contribution through their interactions with client sectors, and particularly how they help client firms to innovate within wider ‘systems of innovation’. Benefits/Outcomes: The significance of KIBS as innovators, and as influential actors in ‘systems of innovation’ is now acknowledged by governments, international bodies, such as the OECD, and incorporated into policy. Research has moved on to understanding differences among KIBS and how they contribute to competitiveness and ‘systems of innovation’. Lead Researchers: Professor Ian Miles, Professor Bruce Tether - AMBS

7. Impact Case – Example 2 From boys to men: Ending the cycle of domestic abuse Challenge/Context: The From Boys to Men Project was a 3 year Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded project, which explored why some boys become domestic abuse perpetrators when others do not. A primary aim of the research was to establish what more can be done to reduce the number of young men who become perpetrators. Solution/Activities: The From Boys to Men Project made a series of recommendations including: preventative education becoming mandatory in schools; a need for service provision that addresses young men’s feelings of vulnerability, rage and powerlessness; the usefulness of social marketing to open the conversation between young people and adults. Benefits/Outcomes: Our recommendations have been adopted by RESPECT, the UK membership organisation for work with domestic violence perpetrators, male victims and young people. Our research was presented to the Home Office by Women’s Aid and helped to provide a body of evidence that persuaded the government to continue their social marketing campaign on domestic violence. Lead Researcher: Professor David Gadd

8. Pathways to Impact  Direct engagement with policy or practitioners  Media commentary  Public engagement  Reports or policy briefs  Expert advice - select committees, advisory boards etc.  Engaging with bridging organisation – e.g. lobby groups

9. Evidence Each case study must explain how (through what means) the research led to or contributed to the impact, and include appropriate sources of information external to the HEI to corroborate these claims.  Reports  Citations  Media  Direct testimony  Quotes, websites, minutes  Social media  Select committees, advisory boards etc.

10. Collecting Evidence Store offline websites/news-stories where possible Save relevant social media interactions Try to get into official minutes where possible Keep copies of minutes citing work Keep list of attendees at events and seminars Consider the right contacts to supply corroborating letters Keep an eye on events and timescales

11. Messages for next REF Impact cases were assessed in terms of their reach and significance Reach not a geographic or pure numbers measure - look at scales Believability vs size of claims highlighted as important Genuine contribution of research to impact very important!!! Corroborating letters very useful – quotes Clarity in narrative important

12. Building Cases Can reflect broader periods of research Can be groups or individuals Can tie together separate strands of research and impact Must be specific and not vague Must demonstrate some definable impact Can show change in debate or prevailing opinion (harder) Can be inter-disciplinary

13. Useful resources ESRC Impact toolkit LSE Impact blog REF Impact case database Manchester ESRC IAA