Becker Medical Library Model for Assessment of Research Impact

The Becker Medical Library Model for Assessment of Research Impact model is a framework for tracking diffusion of research outputs and activities to locate indicators that demonstrate evidence of biomedical research impact. It is intended to be used as a supplement to publication analysis. Using the Becker Model in tandem with publication analysis provides a more robust and comprehensive perspective of biomedical research impact. The Becker Model also includes guidance for quantifying and documenting research impact as well as resources for locating evidence of impact.

About this Website

The purpose of this website is to provide a framework 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

I had anecdotal evidence of the OHTS study impact, but I wondered if quantitative, independent indicators were available. Without the thorough analysis recommended by the Becker Model for Assessment of Research Impact, we would have never realized just how far reaching the impact of our research has been.

—Mae Gordon, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, OHTS

  • 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