Types and models of research impact

1. Types and models of research impact Sandra Nutley University of St Andrews

2. Research Unit for Research Utilisation (RURU) www.st-and.ac.uk/~ruru www.evidencenetwork.org

3. Key message Impact assessment strategies need to be underpinned by realistic ideas about the nature and process of research impact

4. Types of impact • Instrumental– change in policy or practice • Conceptual – change in knowledge, understanding, attitudes …and Enlightenment impact

5. Practice & policy change Knowledge & understanding Attitudes, perceptions, ideas Awareness A research impact continuum CONCEPTUAL USE INSTRUMENTAL USE

6. Models of research impact Stocks or reservoirs of research knowledge Political and professional environments and wider society

7. Co-production of knowledge Knowledge impels action Knowledge grabbing Percolation Interaction Problem solving or tactical Models of research impact Stocks or reservoirs of research knowledge Political and professional environments and wider society

8. Models of research use in social care Research-based practitioner Embedded research Organisational excellence

9. Research based knowledge Practice Research based practitioner Individual craft knowledge and experience

10. Embedded research model Research on what works Practice guidelines and tools Scrutiny of the use of guidelines tools Training in use of guidelines and tools

11. Working in partnership with local universities and research intermediaries Organisational excellence model Learning from existing research Commissioning local research and evaluations Developing a research-minded culture Service delivery organisations

12. Models of research use in social care Research-based practitioner Embedded research Organisational excellence One size does not fit all

13. Implications for impact assessment No single model of research impact likely to be relevant for all situations Make choices based on a clear understanding of the purpose of impact assessment activities

14. May need to consider activities, outputs and outcomes in at least 4 spheres: • Research production • User communities • Interactions between research producers and users • Context within which this occurs Context Research Interaction Users

15. Some funded research may have immediate and recognisable impacts – and some may have none – it is difficult to know these things in advance, especially as impact often occurs far down the line…

16. Need to be cautious about the consequences of any impact assessment regime