Research Metrics for Health Science Schools: A Conceptual Exploration and Proposal
Research is a critical component of the public health enterprise, and a key component of universities and schools of public health and medicine. To satisfy varying levels of stakeholders in the field of public health research, accurately measuring the return on investment (ROI) is important; unfortu...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frma.2022.817821/full |
| _version_ | 1818271577364496384 |
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| author | Nigussie Gemechu Meghan Werbick Michelle Yang Adnan A. Hyder |
| author_facet | Nigussie Gemechu Meghan Werbick Michelle Yang Adnan A. Hyder |
| author_sort | Nigussie Gemechu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research is a critical component of the public health enterprise, and a key component of universities and schools of public health and medicine. To satisfy varying levels of stakeholders in the field of public health research, accurately measuring the return on investment (ROI) is important; unfortunately, there is no approach or set of defined metrics that are universally accepted for such assessment. We propose a research metrics framework to address this gap in higher education. After a selected review of existing frameworks, we identified seven elements of the generic research lifecycle (five internal to an institution and two external). A systems approach was then used to broadly define four parts of each element: inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes (or impacts). Inputs include variables necessary to execute research activities such as human capital and finances. Processes are the pathways of measurement to track research performance through all phases of a study. Outputs entail immediate products from research; and outcomes/impacts demonstrate the contribution research makes within and beyond an institution. This framework enables the tracking and measurement of research investments to outcomes. We acknowledge some of the challenges in applying this framework including the lack of standardization in research metrics, disagreement on defining impact among stakeholders, and limitations in resources for implementing the framework and collecting relevant data. However, we suggest that this proposed framework is a systematic way to raise awareness about the role of research and standardize the measurement of ROI across health science schools and universities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T21:28:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a783920df4d9497db5954c2f54cddc56 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2504-0537 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T21:28:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics |
| spelling | doaj.art-a783920df4d9497db5954c2f54cddc562022-12-22T00:11:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics2504-05372022-04-01710.3389/frma.2022.817821817821Research Metrics for Health Science Schools: A Conceptual Exploration and ProposalNigussie Gemechu0Meghan Werbick1Michelle Yang2Adnan A. Hyder3Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United StatesCenter on Commercial Determinants of Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United StatesMilken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United StatesDepartment of Global Health, Center on Commercial Determinants of Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United StatesResearch is a critical component of the public health enterprise, and a key component of universities and schools of public health and medicine. To satisfy varying levels of stakeholders in the field of public health research, accurately measuring the return on investment (ROI) is important; unfortunately, there is no approach or set of defined metrics that are universally accepted for such assessment. We propose a research metrics framework to address this gap in higher education. After a selected review of existing frameworks, we identified seven elements of the generic research lifecycle (five internal to an institution and two external). A systems approach was then used to broadly define four parts of each element: inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes (or impacts). Inputs include variables necessary to execute research activities such as human capital and finances. Processes are the pathways of measurement to track research performance through all phases of a study. Outputs entail immediate products from research; and outcomes/impacts demonstrate the contribution research makes within and beyond an institution. This framework enables the tracking and measurement of research investments to outcomes. We acknowledge some of the challenges in applying this framework including the lack of standardization in research metrics, disagreement on defining impact among stakeholders, and limitations in resources for implementing the framework and collecting relevant data. However, we suggest that this proposed framework is a systematic way to raise awareness about the role of research and standardize the measurement of ROI across health science schools and universities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frma.2022.817821/fullhealth researchresearch metricspublic healthresearch outcomesresearch impactresearch measurement |
| spellingShingle | Nigussie Gemechu Meghan Werbick Michelle Yang Adnan A. Hyder Research Metrics for Health Science Schools: A Conceptual Exploration and Proposal Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics health research research metrics public health research outcomes research impact research measurement |
| title | Research Metrics for Health Science Schools: A Conceptual Exploration and Proposal |
| title_full | Research Metrics for Health Science Schools: A Conceptual Exploration and Proposal |
| title_fullStr | Research Metrics for Health Science Schools: A Conceptual Exploration and Proposal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Research Metrics for Health Science Schools: A Conceptual Exploration and Proposal |
| title_short | Research Metrics for Health Science Schools: A Conceptual Exploration and Proposal |
| title_sort | research metrics for health science schools a conceptual exploration and proposal |
| topic | health research research metrics public health research outcomes research impact research measurement |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frma.2022.817821/full |
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