How do you measure and demonstrate your research's value? (2024)

Research value and impact are not the same thing, although they are often used interchangeably. Research value refers to the worth or significance of your research for a specific purpose or context, such as advancing knowledge, solving problems, or informing decisions. Research impact refers to the changes or effects that your research produces on society, economy, environment, or culture, either directly or indirectly, intended or unintended. Both research value and impact depend on the perspective and criteria of the evaluator, so you need to be clear about who you are addressing and what you are trying to achieve with your research.

Research evaluation and review are processes of assessing and communicating the quality, value, and impact of your research. Research evaluation is usually done by external parties, such as funders, reviewers, or auditors, who use various methods and indicators to judge your research performance and outcomes. Research review is usually done by yourself or your peers, who use reflective and critical approaches to examine your research process and outputs. Both research evaluation and review can help you improve your research practice, demonstrate your research achievements, and justify your research resources.

There are two main types of methods for measuring and demonstrating your research's value and impact: quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative methods use numerical data and statistics to quantify and compare your research outputs, outcomes, and impacts, such as publications, citations, patents, grants, or social media metrics. Qualitative methods use descriptive data and narratives to illustrate and explain your research outputs, outcomes, and impacts, such as case studies, testimonials, stories, or media coverage. Both quantitative and qualitative methods have their strengths and limitations, so you need to use them appropriately and complementarily to provide a balanced and robust picture of your research.

There are numerous frameworks and tools available to assist with planning, conducting, and reporting your research evaluation and review. Frameworks are sets of principles, concepts, and criteria that provide guidance on what to evaluate, how to evaluate, and why to evaluate. Tools are instruments, models, or techniques that help collect, analyze, and present evaluation data and findings. Examples of frameworks and tools include the Research Excellence Framework (REF), Research Impact Framework (RIF), Logic Model, and Balanced Scorecard. The REF is a system for assessing the quality and impact of research in UK higher education institutions. The RIF is a tool for identifying and describing the types and levels of impact that research can have on different domains and beneficiaries. The Logic Model is a tool for mapping the inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts of a research project or program. Lastly, the Balanced Scorecard is a tool for measuring and monitoring research performance and strategy based on four perspectives: financial, customer, internal process, and learning and growth.

To effectively measure and demonstrate your research's value and impact, it is important to define your research goals and objectives in alignment with the expectations and needs of your stakeholders. Additionally, when selecting evaluation methods and indicators, they should be tailored to your research context and purpose. Furthermore, collecting and analyzing the evaluation data should be done systematically and ethically, with multiple sources and methods used to triangulate and validate the findings. When communicating the evaluation results, they should be done clearly and persuasively through different formats and channels. Finally, use the evaluation feedback and learning to improve research practice and strategy, as well as inform future research plans and decisions.

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

Research Management

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