Evidence of research impact and engagement

Gathering evidence

It is important to keep a record of your research engagement activities and research impact.

The type of evidence you can use to demonstrate engagement and impact will vary depending on your research area and the type of research you are conducting. When you engage with industry, government, community or other groups, keeping records of activities and documents can help demonstrate the use of your research to develop knowledge or change practices.

Visit Research Impact to read examples of UQ researchers engaging with their end-users.

Evidence of research engagement might include:

  • membership of committees, advisory boards and steering groups
  • exhibitions or installations
  • participation in expert panels or broadcast interviews
  • speaking at public lectures, seminars, and conferences.

Evidence of research impact might include:

  • citations
  • collaboration and co-publication
  • influence on policy
  • patents.

Check this list of impact and engagement evidence (PDF, 289KB) for more types of evidence you can use.

Demonstrating impact

Some research impact is easier to measure than others. Calculating numbers of products sold or patent applications is an easier form of evidence to gather than measuring policy uptake or an individual's improved understanding.

Collecting evidence to demonstrate the full range of your impact is important.

Research for a public event, conducted to educate people or promote change, can be used to demonstrate impact. The evidence could include:

  • an evaluation or report of the event
  • formal or informal surveys
  • testimonials from key stakeholders or beneficiaries.

A report for a public event might include information such as:

  • details of the event itself
  • what the aim of the event was
  • who attended
  • how the event was evaluated, such as a feedback form.

Commercialisation

UQ promotes the commercialisation of research to produce innovations that solve real problems. The commercialisation of research is proof of its impact. You can document this process as evidence of impact. Examples:

  • patents
  • royalty licences
  • spin-off companies or start-ups
  • uptake of your technology or process.

Collect evidence

Use Impact Tracker (UQ login required) to collect evidence for your publications.

Impact Tracker is a platform for researchers to plan, capture, and report on the impact and engagement of their research. It allows you to collect a broad range of evidence and to import your publications from UQ eSpace to record the ongoing engagement and impact of your work. 

Visit the Impact Tracker Training Hub to learn how to use this platform for your impact and engagement evidence. 

Impact case studies

See the following UQ research support resources about how to compile an impact case study. 

Explore the Engagement and Impact Assessment 2018 (EI 2018) for:

Telling impact stories

Watch Telling impact stories (8m 22s) or read the video transcript from Yale University. The video introduces the Becker Model and the list of indicators of impact. It has a biomedical focus but provides insight into producing an impact story in any research area. 

Policies and frameworks