The statement propose initial guidelines for a rigorous and effective process of research impact assessment applicable to all research disciplines and oriented towards practice. This statement systematises expert knowledge and practitioner experience from designing and delivering the International School on Research Impact Assessment (ISRIA). It brings together insights from over 450 experts and practitioners from 34 countries, who participated in the school during its 5-year run (from 2013 to 2017) and shares a set of core values from the school’s learning programme. These insights are distilled into ten-point guidelines:
(1) context
(2) purpose
(3) stakeholders’ needs
(4) stakeholder engagement
(5) conceptual frameworks
(6) methods and data sources
(7) indicators and metrics
(8) ethics and conflicts of interest
(9) communication
(10) community of practice
Image source:
https://health-policy-systems.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12961-018-0281-5
The guidelines can help practitioners improve and standardise the process of research impact assessment, but they are by no means exhaustive and require evaluation and continuous improvement.