Abstract
Insights from studies on how research contributes to wider benefits for society (i.e. ‘impacts’) can and should inform the operations of research funding organisations. Yet there would appear to be a gap in funding managers’ knowledge of these real-world processes, and confusion over appropriate roles when it comes to supporting activities that can help research along a pathway to impact.
The UK's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has set out a broad programme of work to understand, learn and improve its operations with respect to impact, as part of a 5-year ‘Impact Vision’. One of these activities is a unique impact training programme, designed to incorporate expert knowledge from studies of science in a way that supports NIHR’s staff to consider how impact relates to their roles.
The impact training programme has been running for the last 4 years and it is timely to conduct an evaluation to see if and how NIHR staff knowledge has improved, and their intentions to apply learning in practice. This information will help NIHR to improve the content and structure of the programme and also inform wider activities, such as how NIHR can develop consistent guidance and information on impact across its operations. The findings from this study will offer valuable insights to the wider research community, based on the unique training programme and how it affects the operations of a national public research funding organisation.
Aim
The evaluation aims to generate formative learning and insights to better understand how to improve future NIHR impact training programme delivery as well as summative evidence on the effectiveness of the programme in achieving its aims. The findings will also be used to support decision making on how best to support the continuing professional development of NIHR staff and NIHR Research Design Service associates. Lastly, findings will contribute to a growing portfolio of NIHR ‘research on research’ activity relating to NIHR’s impact practices and the delivery of its 5-year Impact Vision.
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Expected completion date: March 31, 2022