1. Impact and Knowledge Transfer Officer Psychology Department
RESEARCH IMPACT
Kim Davies
Impact and Knowledge Transfer Officer Psychology Department

2. RESEARCH IMPACT What is impact? Why is impact important?
Impact and public engagement
Planning for impact

3. What is Impact? Research has impact if it has
“… an effect on, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life, beyond academia” (REF 2014)

4. Why is Impact Important?
For the University
REF ££
Raising University’s profile
For You
Raising your professional profile
Future funding
Career progression
Connection with the outside world

5. Impact vs Public Engagement
Public engagement is one (very important) step along the impact “pathway”
Need to show change or benefit resulting from engagement
What does successful public engagement look like? - knowledge exchange, rather than transfer - research is physically accessible - research is understandable

6. When should I start thinking about Impact?
PLAN for impact - right from the start - throughout the lifespan of your research
Serendipitous impact

7. Planning Impact Your research Who might benefit from your research?
Possible impact activities
Capturing evidence of impact

8. Think about your research
Planning Impact
Think about your research
How is it unique?
Why is it important?
What difference could it make? - change/inform policy - improve services/inform guidelines - raise public’s awareness/improve knowledge/understanding - change behaviour/attitudes/perceptions - economic benefits (e.g. reduce healthcare costs, make companies more profitable)

9. Who might benefit from your research?
Planning Impact
Who might benefit from your research?
Partners/Collaborators e.g. charities (engage with patient groups, provide them with services, information etc.)
Influencers/Decision-Makers e.g. civil servants, advisors, other academics
Direct Beneficiaries e.g. public, patient/clinical groups, service providers

10. Planning Impact Impact activities
Involve stakeholders! - throughout the research process
Types of activities: - open access publishing of research (BIROn) - workshops/roundtable discussions/targeted events - research summaries/reports/leaflets - oral/written evidence for Government reports, Select Committees etc. - secondments - social media (websites, Twitter, Facebook, Newsletters, blogs, video podcasts, webinars)

12. Topsy.com
Includes influencers

13. (4) Capture evidence of your impact
Planning Impact
(4) Capture evidence of your impact
Types of evidence: - testimonials - public debate in the media, including social media - questionnaires/feedback demonstrating change in attitudes/opinion/behaviour following your research - Parliamentary debate informed by your research - citations e.g. policy documents, select committee reports - any changes to practice, curriculum, training materials etc.
Keep documentary evidence of any impact your research has, preferably in electronic/hard copy form (reports, newspaper weblinks, screenshots, quotes, testimonials, Tweets etc.)

14. Conclusions/Final Thoughts
Importance of impact
Put yourself and your research out there
Make the most of the support around you - stakeholders - colleagues - public engagement officer - external relations/communications - impact officer