Abstract
The study used a pragmatic mixed methods approach to evaluate the change in knowledge and habits of viewers of research broadcast during two factual TV entertainment programmes to see if it was possible to measure the impact of watching. It was possible to demonstrate some changes in knowledge, though this is likely to be transient, and while potential changes in behaviour were reported, they are difficult to verify. Limitations of the approaches are discussed. Complexity of the participants' lifestyles and social interactions will additionally influence outcomes.
Highlights
The interest in the effect of research beyond the halls of academia continues to grow: in several countries there are concerted efforts to measure it
In the UK, impact has become the term of choice for research influence beyond academia and the Research Excellence Framework (REF) defined it as ‘an effect on, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture or public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life, beyond academia’ (REF, 2011)
In 2014, the outputs of REF for each higher education institution (HEI) included impact case studies to report on the impacts from each unit of assessment
Summary
The interest in the effect of research beyond the halls of academia continues to grow: in several countries there are concerted efforts to measure it. Its use across the 36 different disciplines was not uniform: much higher percentages of case studies in the arts and languages (panel D) reported public engagement impacts than in the sciences and engineering (panels A–C), and community and local government gained higher percentages for arts and languages and humanities (panels C and D). It is expected in the REF assessment (expected in 2021) that the importance and value of the impact case studies will increase, with a potential for case studies with greater diversity of impact, as well as reach and significance, being well received. Penfield and colleagues (2014) suggest that citation of research through the media, including analysis of social media through altmetrics (alternative metrics), can generate evidence alongside other forms to indicate impact
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