How to Structure and Format Your Research Impact Evidence

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Kaja Saahithya

May 14, 2025

Research Impact Evidence

Research impact evidence demonstrates how your work has influenced academia, industry, policy, society, or the economy. Effectively structured evidence strengthens grant applications, promotion cases, research assessments, and personal branding.

Types of Research Impact Evidence

Structure your evidence by impact category:

Academic impact: Citations, adoption in teaching, influence on research directions
Economic impact: Commercialization, industry adoption, cost savings
Social impact: Community benefits, quality of life improvements, behavioral changes
Policy impact: Influence on legislation, regulations, or guidelines
Cultural impact: Contributions to cultural understanding or preservation and also
Environmental impact: Sustainability contributions, conservation outcomes

Core Framework for Impact Evidence

1. Impact Statement (What)

Concise summary of the specific impact
Clear connection to your research and also
Quantifiable outcomes where possible

2. Evidence of Impact (How & Why)

Concrete metrics and indicators
Testimonials from beneficiaries/stakeholders
Documentation of implementation/adoption and also
Before/after comparisons

3. Narrative Context (So What)

Explanation of significance/importance
Scale of impact (local, national, global)
Uniqueness or innovation factor and also
Alignment with broader priorities or SDGs

Formatting Best Practices

Quantitative Evidence

Firstly present metrics with visual aids (charts, graphs)
Use comparative data to show relative impact
Include time-series data to show growth/trends and also
Standardize metrics across similar impacts

Qualitative Evidence

Quote directly from beneficiaries/stakeholders
Use narrative case studies for complex impacts
Include images or media coverage where relevant and also
Balance emotional and analytical content

Documentation Formats by Purpose

Grant Applications

Firstly emphasize alignment with funder priorities
Focus on potential future impact pathways
Include preliminary impact from previous work and also
Address implementation strategy and timeline

Academic Portfolios/CVs

Organize by impact type or research theme
Include altimetric and non-traditional indicators
Link to research outputs directly and also
Highlight recognition (awards, media coverage)

Research Assessment Exercises

Firstly follow specific framework requirements (REF, ERA, etc.)
Provide detailed impact case studies
Include verification sources for all claims and also
Address reach and significance explicitly

Tips for Effective Presentation

Be specific: Replace “widely cited” with “cited 500+ times”
Show causality: Clearly link your research to the claimed impact
Use layered information: Executive summary → detailed evidence
Maintain accessibility: Avoid jargon for non-academic audiences and also
Update regularly: Document impact as it emerges rather than retrospectively

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Neglecting to document impact as it occurs

Confusing outputs (publications) with outcomes (changes resulting from research)

Overclaiming contribution when multiple factors were involved

Focusing only on traditional academic metrics

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