The impact bandwagon is gathering momentum:

Times Higher Education - Bracing for impact may cost sector millions

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=421
445&c=1

"The UK higher education sector could spend in excess of £2 million a year
on the salaries of staff recruited to help institutions handle the impact
element of the research excellence framework."

"Of 124 institutions surveyed, 36 have appointed or seconded staff to work
at least partly on impact."

MK





-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of colin murphy
Sent: 2012-October-10 10:39
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] The impact of impact

Hi Guys
Very keen to see how we could be of use in this. We make talks available to
the public on our website www.pulse-project.com and are looking to add a
link to a google doc or our own page for viewers to fill in. We would then
send this information on to the people who are involved so they can use it
as they wish. I think this coupled with the amount of hits they receive
could be useful (I hope I am not being naive). 
We are putting together a questionnaire to link to the current talks we have
on consciousness with REF in mind. Richard gave an interview for us many
years ago and I know that it has a great impact on my own students when I
teach anomalistic psychology. 
One thing I wanted to ask, is what questions do people think are most
important? As soon as we have this up and running I am happy to post a link
to everyone and we can see if it helps at all or how it can be made more
useful to people who give up their time give public lectures. 
All the best
Colin Murphy
07919486483
www.pulse-project.org
www.twitter.com/pulseproject



On 10 Oct 2012, at 06:53, Chris Stokes <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> It's probably an obvious idea to those who do this kind of thing in their
research already, but there's a certain Russell Group university intending
to use e-surveys for gathering evidence of impact for the REF. That
university is currently advertising for a temporary research fellow to
support the head of its school of sociology and social policy (deadline
today). The first responsibility of the post holder is to help in
preparations for the REF. This will involve collecting evidence of impact.
'[I]t is expected,' say the job details, 'that a number of e-surveys will be
conducted to support this work and the post holder must be experienced and
proficient in e-surveys, data collection, analysis and writing up'.
> 
> Chris
> ________________________________________
> From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of richard wiseman
[[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 05 October 2012 09:39
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [PSCI-COM] The impact of impact
> 
> Hi
> As some of you may know, all UK academics will soon be evaluated in a
government exercise known as the REF. A key of the exercise involves
assessing the 'impact' of their research, and this includes public
understanding and engagement projects.
> 
> However, it is vital that all submitted impacts (including giving a talk,
helping with an exhibition, appearing on the media, or writing a popular
book) must be accompanied by documented evidence that the work has directly
informed the public or changed their attitudes/beliefs.
> 
> Has anyone in the PUS community been dealing with this issue (e.g., what
evidence is and isn't acceptable, how that evidence is collected)?
> 
> One important implication is that academics will be v reluctant to be
involved in future PUS work unless it explicitly results in this kind of
evidence.
> 
> Cheers
> Richard
> 
> 
> 
> Professor Richard Wiseman
> Psychology Department
> University of Hertfordshire
> 
> Tel: 077 909 05219
> Twitter: @richardwiseman
> www.richardwiseman.com<http://www.richardwiseman.com>
> 
> 

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