Research for research sake is no longer tenable or affordable to be valuable to society
research must have impact! This textbook takes the reader on a journey from how the UK Research
Excellence Framework assesses impact to real examples of outstanding research impact case
studies. Along the way Prof. Hugh McKenna describes and explains the case for research impact
the challenges the link between research impact and evidence informed practice achieving
impact through changing policy and engaging with the public how researchers can make their
research findings more impactful and how research impact is assessment nationally and
internationallyIt is written in an easily accessible and understandable style with reflective
exercises amply distributed throughout its pages and helpful guides helping to engage readers
and notably health professionals who are often turned off by the normal heavy research tomes.
This book makes the complex simple and the wearisome fascinating. The short chapters are
interesting and authoritative and can be read on a 'standalone' basis allowing readers to 'dip
in and out'. From his experience in various countries the author has a unique insight into
what research impact is how it is assessed and how and where research findings can have the
most benefit. The stimulus for this book has been the excellent feedback that the author has
received from health professionals students and fellow researchers. There is always a risk
that good knowledge and experience do not transfer well into a good textbook. In Research
Impact: Guidance on Advancement Achievement and Assessment nothing has been lost in the
transition. The book will be of great interest to many health researchers from nursing to
midwifery pharmacy medicine or any allied health professional but also to any research
manager in all professions who want their research to bring positive change to society culture
the economy health and quality of life. It will be of particular interest to those who want to
understand the difference between research impacts that are weak and those that are outstanding
and how such assessments are made.
