Hello Social Policyers,
A few weeks ago I came scrounging for insights on how to deliver a
forthcoming presentation to government types (as an academic type
myself). Your answers went well beyond what I'd hoped for, and gave me a
fantastic preparation for the task ahead. In fact your excellent counsel
on that matter has earned you my repeat business!
Today's question is about 'impact' -- the Marmite of the academic world,
and a growing source of pleasure or disgust, depending on your tastes.
Now, I'm in the early stages of co-editing a book about the interface
between sociolinguistics and 'impact'
(http://linguistlist.org/issues/23/23-1034.html). I'm also being
interviewed for a job soon where research impact across the social
sciences is a big factor. So, in asking this question there are mixed
motives afoot. This could be seen as a pretty selfish request, but I've
plucked up the nerve to ask all of you because I think the responses
will be informative to everyone. As with my previous query about
presenting to government, if you send your responses directly to me,
then I'll collate everyone's advice and send it back to the list next
week, duly anonymised. Your inboxes will all receive less of a battering
that way.
I'm aiming this mostly at academics in the social sciences (broadly
defined), but by all means those working in other fields -- and outside
academia too -- are very much welcome to contribute.
I'll split this into a few different parts, to draw out some different
aspects. Of course, please feel free to skip questions.
1. What pressures have you felt to emphasise impact in your research
funding applications? Have you had applications turned down on the basis
of impact? How do you feel you could have improved? Alternatively, has
your exemplary attention to impact tipped the balance in favour of your
proposal?
2. Do you feel antagonistic to the growing importance of impact? If so,
then what might win you round to the idea? Or do you already feel
enthusiastic about impact? If so, then what sorts of facilities and
supports would enable you to pursue that agenda more easily in your
research?
3. What successes have you had boosting the impactfulness (like my
word?) of your research, for example bending the ears of government, or
improving the lives or working practices of your research participants
(and of wider interest groups)?
4. How do you personally understand the meaning of impact as it's
bandied about in funding bodies, including the likes of HEFCE/HEFCW
etc., ESRC, and others? Do you get the feeling there are (gasp!)
unwritten rules behind it all?
5. Do you like Marmite?
I thank you all sincerely in advance for your responses. As I mentioned,
I will dutifully collate, summarise and anonymise all your advice, and
distribute it to the list next week.
Impactfully yours,
Dave
--
Dr. Dave Sayers
Honorary Research Fellow
College of Arts & Humanities
and Language Research Centre
Swansea University
[log in to unmask]
http://swansea.academia.edu/DaveSayers
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