1. A Practical Guide to Evidencing Impact
Dr Louise Atkins Jo Lakey

2. Impact in Brunel’s College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences
UoA
Number of case studies
18 Economics and Econometrics 4
19 Business and Management Studies 7
20 Law
21 Politics and International Studies 3
23 Sociology 2
24 Anthropology and Development Studies
25 Education
29 English Language and Literature
35 Music, Drama, Dance and Performing Arts
36 Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management
Working on the assumption that CBASS will submit to broadly the same UoAs as last time – similar number of case studies
Since REF2014 Brunel has moved from central support for impact to College support
Very diverse disciplines – particular struggles in disciplines in Main Panel D (hence starting there)
Caveat – this is not us giving a definitive solution – just sharing our approach to starting to support academics in evidencing impact
A Practical Guide to Evidencing Impact

3. ‘What do you need from me?!’
‘There’s always a lot of agitation around evidence’ Difficulties in evidencing impact in Panel D areas
‘Where do I start?!’
‘What do you need from me?!’
‘I don’t have that kind of information, and I haven't got time to go back and fetch it now!’
Our motivations for creating the guide
To help people collect the right kind of evidence
To ensure that people have the right kind of evidences built into their project for the future
A Practical Guide to Evidencing Impact

4. Existing Resources REF2014 Assessment Criteria: Impact
REF2014 Impact Case Studies
The Societal and Economic Impacts of Academic Research: International perspectives on good practice and managing evidence (Digital Science, 2016)
Collecting Research Impact Evidence: Best Practice Guidance for the Research Community (Vertigo Ventures & Digital Science, 2016)
The Impact of Higher Education Leadership, Governance and Management Research: Mining the Research Excellence Framework Impact Case Studies (Morrow, 2016)
Some Resources exist – but not fit for purpose
Need a place where all the information is brought together
Practical document
Topic specific
A Practical Guide to Evidencing Impact

5. Creating ‘A Practical Guide to Evidencing Impact’
Introducing impact and outlining the characteristics of 4* impact (from REF2014)
How to use the guide / contents
Stages of impact
Description of 8 types of impact
Case study examples from REF2014 to evidence the 8 types of impact
Further support and resources
A Practical Guide to Evidencing Impact

6. Academics/ Researchers
Research process
Wider stakeholders
Academics/ Researchers
Research user
High level impact
Immediate affect on audience
Affect of co-produced research on individuals
Engaging with wider communities
Follow up activity (engagement workshops)
Engaging with policy makers, public services or private businesses
Civil society
Cultural life
Economic prosperity
Education
Policy Making
Public discourse
Public Services
Creation of products and services to be utilised by wider audiences
Audience reaction to output
Immediate feedback on artistic output
Evidenced through
Actions
Influencing / creating specialist area of exploration
Giving expert advice
Conferences
Citations
Scholarly outputs
Reviews
Media attention 1 3 2 4

7. Examples from REF2014
A Practical Guide to Evidencing Impact

8. Further support and resources
Identify 
Plan
Carry out
Capture Evidence
Report Results
Describing 'the demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy', impact can be described in a variety of ways.
In REF2014, impact was defined by HEFCE as 'an effect on, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life, beyond academia'.
Most funders now want to see evidence of impact plans which are effectively built into research from conception. As a result, increasing importance is placed on pathways to impact statements.
For further assistance and information on this stage contact: Brunel RSDO
Impact and engagement activities can take place at any point during the research cycle, but the earlier collaboration begins with stakeholders and/or beneficiaries the better.
Once your stakeholders have been identified, Brunel Engage and the Corporate Relations departments can help you to develop relationships and grow your potential for impact.
As impact develops we want to capture a clear picture of all elements of the activity, making sure that we can provide clear evidence to back up each impact claim.
Brunel captures and stores impact evidence through the VV Impact Tracker which is populated and managed at college level.
Please make sure that you are working with the impact administrator to capture information that you must provide to the CBASS Impact Administrator to create high quality impact case studies.
For the development of strong impact cases it is important that the results and outputs of your research are visible.
The Library has dedicated research support staff who can provide guidance and training on research data management, copyright and other research integrity as areas well as open access.
Contact:
Presentation Title

9. Initial Feedback This is really useful
This is great and definitely needed
Clear and helpful
Want the same thing for each panel
Want more examples
Would like to explore further the characteristics of a 4* output
A Practical Guide to Evidencing Impact

10. Challenges Difficulties in: Creating strict processes and guidelines
Identifying most appropriate ways that the resource is delivered
Transforming engagement into action
Providing the guidance post-award
A Practical Guide to Evidencing Impact

11. Thank You