Right on Q: Unravelling the complexity of research impact

Description

The value of research-based knowledge is a core concern of universities, which face ongoing demands to be relevant and have impact.

Universities continue to discuss and debate what “impact” is, beyond nuanced differences within and across disciplines.

This is not only because impact features in some university rankings. The ARC defines impact as “the contribution that research makes to the economy, society, environment or culture, beyond the contribution to academic research.”

There is complexity to defining and measuring research impact; it’s about negotiating push and pull factors when thinking about research dissemination, how research impact is framed, and how research is used.

It’s also about collaborating for impact.

The Monash Q Project has been exploring this question of impact within the field of education by investigating the use of research evidence in Australian schools.

A five-year study involving more than 2100 Australian teachers, school leaders and system leaders, the Q Project has generated distinctive insights into how research impact can be strengthened.