1. RCUK, REF and ‘impact’
Graham Smith
Professor of Politics
gsmith@soton.ac.uk

2. Impact and RCUK
• Impact summary / pathways to impact
• Research Councils UK (RCUK) defines research impact as
'the demonstrable contribution that excellent research
makes to society and the economy'.
– fostering global economic performance, and specifically
the economic competitiveness of the United Kingdom
– increasing the effectiveness of public services and policy
– enhancing quality of life, health and creative output.
• A key aspect of this definition of research impact is that
impact must be demonstrable.

3. RCUK and impact
• The impact of social science research can be categorised as:
• Instrumental: influencing the development of policy,
practice or service provision, shaping legislation, altering
behaviour
• Conceptual: contributing to the understanding of policy
issues, reframing debates
• Capacity building: through technical and personal skill
development.
• http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/tools-and-resources/impact-toolkit/w

4. Impact and the REF
• 25 per cent of REF score for Unit
of Assessment associated with
‘impact’
• “For the purposes of the REF,
impact is defined 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”

5. Panel C – types of impact
• Impacts on creativity, culture and society
• Economic, commercial, organisational impacts
• Impacts on the environment
• Health and welfare impacts
• Impacts on practitioners and professional services
• Impacts on public policy, law and services
• http://www.ref.ac.uk/pubs/2012-01/

6. Impacts on public policy, law and services
• Legislative change, development of legal principle or effect
on legal practice.
• Forms of regulation, dispute resolution or access to justice
have been influenced.
• Shaping or influence on policy made by government, quasi-
government bodies, NGOs or private organisations.
• Changes to the delivery or form of any service for the
public.

7. Impacts on public policy, law and services
• Policy debate has been stimulated or informed by research
evidence, which may have led to confirmation of policy,
change in policy direction, implementation or withdrawal
of policy.
• Effect on the quality, accessibility, cost-effectiveness or
efficiency of services.
• Impact on democratic participation.
• Influencing the work of NGOs or commercial organisations.
• Improved public understanding of social issues.
• Enabling a challenge to conventional wisdom.