How to Use the Model for Assessment of Research Impact

The purpose of this website is to provide a model (Becker Medical Library Model for Assessment of Research Impact) for assessment of biomedical research impact and includes the following:

• Guidance for quantifying and documenting research impact
• Resources for locating evidence of research impact
• Strategies for enhancing research impact

Benefits of Assessment of Research Impact

Quantify and document research impact Justify future requests for funding Quantify return on research investment Discover how research findings are being used Identify similar research projects Identify possible collaborators Determine if research findings are duplicated, confirmed, corrected, improved or repudiated Determine if research findings were extended (different human populations, different animal models/species, etc.) Confirm that research findings were properly attributed/credited Demonstrate that research findings are resulting in meaningful health outcomes Discover community benefit as a result of research findings Progress Reports Tenure Promotion dossiers

Intended Audience

The intended audience for this website is any party who has an interest in quantifying and documenting biomedical research. The Becker Medical Library Model for Assessment of Research Impact is based on assessment of impact of biomedical research; those seeking guidance on research impact in the arts and humanities and social sciences (to a lesser degree) are advised to contact their subject librarians. All resources are available to faculty, researchers, students and staff at Washington University and Washington University School of Medicine. Some resources as noted are available only to those with a subscription or license to the resource.

Definitions

Clinical Implementation

Clinical implementation is the application or adoption of research outputs in clinical practice.

Community Benefit

Community benefit is the enhancement of community health outcomes as a result of research outputs.

Indicators

Indicators are specific, concrete examples that demonstrate research impact.

Knowledge Transfer

Knowledge transfer represents awareness and/or use of research outputs. Subsequent use of the research output can be by the same research study investigators or by another group.

Research Output

Research outputs are the products created/generated from basic or clinical biomedical research (research data) and products disseminated by the research study investigators that discuss or interpret the findings of the research study (journal publications).

Research Impact

Research impact “describes the effects and outcomes, in terms of value and benefit,” as a result of research outputs. (See the Primary Health Care Research & Information Service’s “Understanding and Measuring Research Impact”). Outcomes include:

• Contribution to the knowledge base
• Change in understanding of a disease, disorder or condition
• Change in policy
• Change in practice
• Change in community health

Where to Start

The Becker Medical Library Model for Assessment of Research Impact is organized into the following stages:

• Research Output
• Knowledge Transfer
• Clinical Implementation
• Community Benefit

Each stage has its own link on the left side of the page. A drop down menu box leads to an introduction and displays the indicators in alphabetical order. Each indicator page includes the following:

• Evidence of output, transfer, implementation or benefit for each indicator
• Definition of the indicator
• Discussion of the indicator, including examples when applicable
• Assessment/tracking of the indicator
• Resources and guidance for assessment of the indicator

 

Additional sections on the Assessing the Impact of Research website include:

• Strategies for Enhancing the Impact of Research
  • Contains guidance and tips for enhancing the impact of research and includes examples of Web 2.0 tools for dissemination of research findings.
• References
  • Includes references and links to materials related to research impact.

 

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Last updated: April 27, 2009