Interpretations of research impact in seven disciplines
Based on a 2010-11 study involving senior researchers from seven disciplines, this article explores critically some of the diverse interpretations of impact in different disciplines, sub-fields and modes of research, and researchers' views about how these interpretations articulate with top-dow...
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
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European Educational Research Association
2013
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| _version_ | 1797105259790729216 |
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| author | Oancea, A |
| author_facet | Oancea, A |
| author_sort | Oancea, A |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Based on a 2010-11 study involving senior researchers from seven disciplines, this article explores critically some of the diverse interpretations of impact in different disciplines, sub-fields and modes of research, and researchers' views about how these interpretations articulate with top-down impact agendas and with university structures and incentive systems. Among the participants in the study, humanities researchers referred more explicitly to disciplines in framing their definitions of impact; social researchers, to theoretical and methodological traditions of research; and physical scientists, to modes of research (such as applied and theoretical). The article highlights the limits of unidirectional and short-term notions of impact and of pressures to demonstrate chain-link trajectories of influence from research insights to non-academic changes and benefits. Nonetheless, it argues that the current context offers an important (though easy-to-miss) opportunity to debate and reconceptualise 'impact' and its relevance to accountability processes, and to re-calibrate assessment methodologies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T06:44:58Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:fa90fdf4-0948-4d26-a758-b1e0d76a175f |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T06:44:58Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publisher | European Educational Research Association |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:fa90fdf4-0948-4d26-a758-b1e0d76a175f2022-03-27T13:06:47ZInterpretations of research impact in seven disciplinesJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:fa90fdf4-0948-4d26-a758-b1e0d76a175fEnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordEuropean Educational Research Association2013Oancea, ABased on a 2010-11 study involving senior researchers from seven disciplines, this article explores critically some of the diverse interpretations of impact in different disciplines, sub-fields and modes of research, and researchers' views about how these interpretations articulate with top-down impact agendas and with university structures and incentive systems. Among the participants in the study, humanities researchers referred more explicitly to disciplines in framing their definitions of impact; social researchers, to theoretical and methodological traditions of research; and physical scientists, to modes of research (such as applied and theoretical). The article highlights the limits of unidirectional and short-term notions of impact and of pressures to demonstrate chain-link trajectories of influence from research insights to non-academic changes and benefits. Nonetheless, it argues that the current context offers an important (though easy-to-miss) opportunity to debate and reconceptualise 'impact' and its relevance to accountability processes, and to re-calibrate assessment methodologies. |
| spellingShingle | Oancea, A Interpretations of research impact in seven disciplines |
| title | Interpretations of research impact in seven disciplines |
| title_full | Interpretations of research impact in seven disciplines |
| title_fullStr | Interpretations of research impact in seven disciplines |
| title_full_unstemmed | Interpretations of research impact in seven disciplines |
| title_short | Interpretations of research impact in seven disciplines |
| title_sort | interpretations of research impact in seven disciplines |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT oanceaa interpretationsofresearchimpactinsevendisciplines |