[EQ] Measuring the Impact of Research: What do we know?

Measuring the Impact of Research: What do we know? (Part I)

 

Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, Insight–Action Issue 46 (October 16, 2008)

 

Available online as PDF file at:
http://28784.vws.magma.ca/other_documents/insight_action/documents/InsightandAction_46_e.pdf

 

 

Organizations that fund research are under intense pressure to show that the research they support brings value to their communities.i In fact, in Canada, demonstrating the impact of research is a requirement of the federal government’s science and technology strategy. Due mainly to the applied nature of their research, health services and policy researchers in particular face high expectations to describe the benefits of their work.

 

KEY MESSAGES

• A common reason for measuring the impact of research is to demonstrate accountability, but results of measuring can also be used to guide improvements in research and programming.

• Health research impacts generally include: knowledge production; research capacity-building; informed decision-making; health and health sector benefits; and economic benefits.

• Among some of the widely used methods for measuring the benefits from research are bibliometric analysis, economic rate of return, peer review, case studies, logic modelling, and benchmarking. Taking a multi-indicator, multi-method approach is advised.

 

Related online Papers:

 

RAND Europe. 2006. “Measuring the benefits from research.” Policy Resource.

 

Government of Canada. 2007. Mobilizing science and technology to Canada’s advantage.

 

Hovland, I. 2007. “Making a difference: M&E of policy research.” Working Paper 281 Results of ODI research presented in preliminary form for discussion and critical comment.

 

Davies, H., Nutley, S., & Walter, I. 2005. “Assessing the impact of social science research: conceptual, methodological and practical issues.” Research Unit for Research Utilisation (RURU), University of St. Andrews.

 

Canadian Institutes of Health Research. 2005. “Developing a CIHR Framework to Measure the Impact of Health Research – Synthesis Report of Meetings

 

 

 

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