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							<p>With the growth in public support for research, the question of what is known as 'impact' has become a major issue. Most countries that invest significantly in research expect the research they support to benefit (or favourably impact) society. It is worth becoming familiar with two key ways in which research impact is assessed in the UK:</p>
								
							<ul>
								<li><strong>Research Excellence Framework (REF):</strong> The REF is the UK's system for evaluating the quality of research conducted by institutions; this evaluation helps to determine the proportion of public funds to be allocated to higher education institutions. As an important part of this assessment, universities must provide evidence for how they are supporting and maximising the impact of their research, and its relevance to society. As part of this, they must present case studies of individual projects that demonstrate the 'significance' and 'reach' of the research.</li>
								<li><strong>Research project grants:</strong> Many funders ask researchers to include details of the impact they aim to achieve with their research and their plans for achieving this in their grant applications. Prior to a project's completion and the submission of the final reports, researchers must report to the funder on their progress in achieving their intended impact.</li>
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							<p>This emphasis on impact creates additional responsibilities for researchers, who also need to navigate the many ambiguities associated with this area.</p>

							<h3>Maximising impact with integrity</h3>
							<p>Most researchers, from an early point in their career, will be expected to carry out specific activities to increase the beneficial impact of their research on society. Examples of such activities can include hosting dissemination events, providing evidence for policy briefings, or working with businesses. Just as with your research project itself, it is crucial that any impact-building activity is conducted responsibly.</p>
							<p>There are various integrity considerations that researchers should keep in mind at various stages. Integrity concerns should be at the forefront of researchers' minds as they:</p>
							<ul>
								<li>Seek to create impact</li>
								<li>Evaluate the level of impact their research has had</li>
								<li>Communicate the impact of their research to wider audiences.</li>
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											<li><a href="https://www.ref.ac.uk/" target="_blank">Research Excellence Framework 2021</a></li>
											<li><a href="https://esrc.ukri.org/research/impact-toolkit/" target="_blank">Economic and Social Research Council &ndash; Impact Toolkit</a></li>
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							<instructional-text><p>The statements featured in the activity below describe some of the ways in which researchers can maximise the impact of their research while maintaining integrity. Reflect on each statement, and categorise it into the appropriate column depending on which stage (creating, evaluating or communicating) it is most closely associated with.</p></instructional-text>
							<instructional-text-accessible><p>In the following activity, the statements clarify some of the ways in which researchers can maximise the impact of their research while maintaining integrity. Reflect on each statement and categorise it into the stage that it is most closely associated with. Then continue on to find out if your answers are correct.</p></instructional-text-accessible>

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							<classification>
								<categories>
									<category>
										<category-heading>Creating impact</category-heading>
										<category-answers>
											<classify-item>Keeping detailed records of all activity undertaken to maximise impact
												<classify-item-short>Keeping detailed records of impact activity</classify-item-short>
											</classify-item>
											<classify-item>Engaging with relevant public groups from the start to improve the likelihood that the research will meet their needs and ensure that any ethical implications are understood at an early stage
												<classify-item-short>Engaging with the public to address their needs</classify-item-short>
											</classify-item>
											<classify-item>Obtaining the necessary governance approvals for resources, space and funding for impact-building activities
												<classify-item-short>Obtaining the necessary governance approvals</classify-item-short>
											</classify-item>
										</category-answers> 
									</category>
									<category>
										<category-heading>Evaluating impact</category-heading>
										<category-answers>
											<classify-item>Measuring impact based on evidence rather than personal conviction
												<classify-item-short>Measuring impact based on evidence</classify-item-short>
											</classify-item>
											<classify-item>Using quantitative and qualitative data accurately and responsibly to assess the reach and significance of the research
												<classify-item-short>Using data accurately and responsibly </classify-item-short>
											</classify-item>
										</category-answers>
									</category>
									<category>
										<category-heading>Communicating impact</category-heading>
										<category-answers>
											<classify-item>Taking care to avoid exaggerating the positive impacts of research
												<classify-item-short>Avoiding exaggeration</classify-item-short>
											</classify-item>
											<classify-item>Using inclusive and accessible language to explain the impact of the research to all stakeholders
												<classify-item-short>Using inclusive and accessible language</classify-item-short>
											</classify-item>
											<classify-item>Ensuring all collaborators are acknowledged in university press releases or social media announcements celebrating the impact of your research
												<classify-item-short>Ensuring all collaborators are acknowledged </classify-item-short>
											</classify-item>
										</category-answers>
									</category>
								</categories>
							</classification>
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							<p>The impact of research is often difficult to predict and cannot always be planned; sometimes, the greatest benefits of a research project arise from good fortune alone! However, in any work that researchers actively carry out to boost the positive impact of their research, they must take care to fulfil their professional responsibilities.</p>

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							<h3>Different perspectives on cost and benefits</h3>
						
							<p>The impact of research on society is seldom limited to one effect or change. New drugs and medical procedures save lives, but usually increase healthcare costs. Social science research is useful for developing social policy, but can be misused for political purposes. Engineering developments can improve profits and productivity, but also lead to lost jobs and increased income disparity. If you search hard enough, any project can have beneficial and harmful impacts (see the "Useful links" pod for links to articles with further discussion of this).</p>
							<p>To appreciate the benefits and harms that might result from different applications of research, it is important to understand the different ways in which research can be used.</p>

							<instructional-text><p>Click on each of the terms describing the different ways in which research can be used. Clicking on a term will bring up a definition and an illustrative example.</p></instructional-text>
							<instructional-text-accessible><p>Continue on for a list of terms describing the different ways in which research can be used. Following each term is a definition and an illustrative example.</p></instructional-text-accessible>
							
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								<p><text-label content="<p><strong>Definition:</strong> Research that could be used in beneficial or harmful ways.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> Genetically engineered pathogens could be studied for use either in biological warfare (harmful) or in the fight against biological warfare (beneficial).</p>">Dual use</text-label></p>
								<p><text-label content="<p><strong>Definition:</strong> Research that some believe is useful, but others consider harmful.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> Research on ways to improve nuclear weapons is viewed by some as a deterrent to war, but by others as a cause of arms build-ups and conflict.</p>">Controversial use</text-label></p>
								<p><text-label content="<p><strong>Definition:</strong> Research that can be used in ways that benefit some but not others.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> Robotics research benefits industry by increasing efficiency and bringing down costs, but disadvantages workers by making jobs redundant.</p>">Selective use</text-label></p>
								<p><text-label content="<p><strong>Definition:</strong> The improper use of research.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> Research looking at race in relation to factors such as crime, education and social behaviours could uncover discrimination, but could also lead to discriminatory behaviours.</p>">Misuse</text-label></p>
								<p><text-label content="<p><strong>Definition:</strong> Research that should not be undertaken under any circumstances.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> Research on ways to modify human inheritance (e.g. modification of germ cell lines) could lead to the elimination of genetic diseases, but could also change inheritance in unknown ways. (Many countries currently ban this kind of research.)</p>">Illegal use</text-label></p>
								<p><text-label content="<p><strong>Definition:</strong> Research that seeks fundamental knowledge without any anticipation of immediate benefits.</p><p><strong>Example:</strong> Exploration of the outer planets expands our understanding of the solar system, but has limited, if any, immediate benefit.</p>">Basic research</text-label></p>
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								<h4>Dual use</h4>
								<p><strong>Definition:</strong> Research that could be used in beneficial or harmful ways.</p>
								<p><strong>Example:</strong> Genetically engineered pathogens could be studied for use either in biological warfare (harmful) or in the fight against biological warfare (beneficial).</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Controversial use</h4>
								<p><strong>Definition:</strong> Research that some believe is useful, but others consider harmful.</p>
								<p><strong>Example:</strong> Research on ways to improve nuclear weapons is viewed by some as a deterrent to war, but by others as a cause of arms build-ups and conflict.</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Selective use</h4>
								<p><strong>Definition:</strong> Research that can be used in ways that benefit some but not others.</p>
								<p><strong>Example:</strong> Robotics research benefits industry by increasing efficiency and bringing down costs, but disadvantages workers by making jobs redundant.</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Misuse</h4>
								<p><strong>Definition:</strong> The improper use of research.</p>
								<p><strong>Example:</strong> Research looking at race in relation to factors such as crime, education and social behaviours could uncover discrimination, but could also lead to discriminatory behaviours.</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Illegal use</h4>
								<p><strong>Definition:</strong> Research that should not be undertaken under any circumstances.</p>
								<p><strong>Example:</strong> Research on ways to modify human inheritance (e.g. modification of germ cell lines) could lead to the elimination of genetic diseases, but could also change inheritance in unknown ways. (Many countries currently ban this kind of research.)</p>
								<hr>
								<h4>Basic research</h4>
								<p><strong>Definition:</strong> Research that seeks fundamental knowledge without any anticipation of immediate benefits.</p>
								<p><strong>Example:</strong> Exploration of the outer planets expands our understanding of the solar system, but has limited, if any, immediate benefit.</p>
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							<p>You might feel that your research will benefit others, but you need to keep in mind that others could view it differently. To disregard how your research could potentially be used is, we suggest, irresponsible. How you act once you have weighed the societal benefits against the risks of your work is your decision; however, we would urge you to make any decisions carefully and openly after you have considered all options.</p>
							
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										<p>The following articles set out some arguments concerning the use and misuse of various kinds of research:</p>
										<ul>
											<li><a href="https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2472917,00.asp" target="_blank">Social Media is Misused by Researchers</a></li>
											<li><a href="https://www.socialsciencespace.com/2014/02/the-use-or-is-it-abuse-of-social-media-in-social-science/" target="_blank">The Use (or Is It Abuse?) of Social Media in Social Science</a></li>
											<li><a href="http://theconversation.com/the-impact-of-research-carries-weight-but-ripples-matter-more-6820" target="_blank">The 'Impact' of Research Carries Weight (but Ripples Matter More)</a></li>
											<li><a href="http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2015/06/01/why-social-psychology-matters-in-the-real-world/" target="_blank">The Misuse of Psychological Arguments in the Immigration Debate: Why Social Psychology Matters in the Real World</a></li>
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							<h3>Summary</h3>
							<p>Research comes packaged with beneficial and harmful impacts. Even seemingly risk-free projects (such as analysing a work of art or describing a newly discovered species) can result in harm by drawing attention to something that previously went unnoticed. Researchers should, therefore, at least consider the different ways in which their research could impact society, and seek to maximise the beneficial impacts with integrity. </p>

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