One of the most common conversations that we have with colleagues is about whether something is really impact, or part of a pathway to impact. Both are important, with activities involving engagement and communication often essential to generating impact. But it’s important to differentiate – impact is about what real-world change has occurred as a result of everything else that has taken place. The Impact Team is developing an Impact and Knowledge Exchange Glossary, helping to distinguish between different aspects of impact, knowledge exchange, and impact pathways. 

Impact

The beneficial change exhibited in society as a result of research. What is different now (or will be different at the end of your project) as a result of your research? Who has benefited, and how? Maybe you have prevented something negative from happening – this is also impact. 

Engagement

Two-way active interaction with groups or individuals outside of academia. Engagement can be broken down further: consider policy engagement, public engagement, or civic engagement, for example. The participant’s input is essential. Engagement is likely to be seen throughout a project, not just once findings have been made. Engagement may contribute directly to the research itself, such as in the case of co-produced research.

Dissemination

The one-way provision of information and research findings to others, such as researchers, policymakers, or industry. Dissemination is likely to occur at the end of a project or as stages are completed, with findings available to share. Dissemination may be a precursor to communication or engagement, helping to raise awareness of your work amongst interested groups.

Communication

Communication sits between Engagement and Dissemination. It involves providing information to an audience and may elicit responses, but it is less interactive than engagement. Communication may occur throughout a project, but is less likely to contribute to the research than engagement.

Knowledge Exchange

Creating and sharing knowledge, experience, ideas, or expertise with external communities for mutual benefit; Attracting partners and resources to deliver and apply research and innovation, or to enrich students’ experience and employability. Some aspects of knowledge exchange may contribute to impact, but others (such as those related to student experience through interacting with external partners) may not.

Pathways

The elements of a project that take it from research to impact. This can include engagement, communication and dissemination, but also any other activities which lead to your research making a difference in the real world.

For more definitions, check out the Impact and Knowledge Exchange Glossary in our Resource Drive.