For Research Staff - Research journey

The scheme is open to all research-active academic staff who were employed by ECU on or before 31 March 2022. Applications are accepted from individuals or teams – for team applications, a Lead Chief Investigator must be named and take the role of project leader with overall responsibility for all aspects of the grant. Researchers may still apply in instances where the original research associated with the impact was not undertaken at ECU, so long as their role in facilitating the delivery of the real-world impact occurred whilst employed by the University.

Although the original research may not have been undertaken at ECU, the role undertaken by researchers to facilitate the delivery of the real-world impact must have occurred whilst employed by the University.

Yes, more than one application can be received from the same individual or team for different research projects where it is believed/understood that other distinct real-world research impact(s) have occurred.

Real-world research impact is the demonstrable contribution that research makes to the economy, society, culture, national security, public policy or services, health, the environment, or quality of life, beyond contributions to academia.  Note that publicity or media coverage in isolation is not considered impact.

Academic impact is defined as the contribution that research makes in shifting understanding and advancing scientific method, theory and application across and within disciplines.*  It is normally a result of research being disseminated to academic audiences, usually through publications and conference presentations.  It is often measured using quantitative measures such as publication citation counts and journal level metrics e.g., Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and Journal Impact Factors (JIF). Academic impact differs from real-world impact in that the ultimate beneficiaries of the research are external to academia, such as businesses, governments and community organisations.  Academic impacts are excluded from this scheme, which is focussed only on impacts external to academia.

_{*As adapted from the UK Research and Innovation Impact Toolkit for Economic and Social Sciences 2022}

A research end-user is an individual, community or organisation external to academia that will directly use or directly benefit from the output, outcome or result of the research.  Examples of research end-users include governments, businesses and community organisations.

Specific exclusions of research end-users are:

• other higher education providers (including international universities)
• organisations that are affiliates, controlled entities or subsidiaries (such as Medical Research Institutes) of a higher education provider
• equivalents (international or domestic) of the above exclusions.*

_{*Australian Research Council, EI 2018 Submission Guidelines}

Depending on the approach utilised to evaluate impact, evidence may include beneficiary testimonials, survey results, focus group results, pre- and post- comparison data, etc.  Examples of various types of research impact evidence are available in the Collecting Research Impact Evidence: Best Practice Guidance for the Research Community report (Vertigo Ventures and Digital Science, June 2016).

Impact indicators can be qualitative or quantitative information that illustrates an effect or change arising from the utilisation of research by end-users within a policy or practice setting. Examples of indicators given by the ARC include return on investment, jobs created, and improvements in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).*  Impact indicators are also identified as outcomes within the impact pathway.  While the exact impact achieved by research can sometimes be difficult to ascertain and attribute, the impact pathway sets out a relationship between research outputs, translation activities and outcomes. Impact indicators are those outcomes which can reasonably be expected to result in benefits to society, culture, environment or economy.

_{*Australian Research Council, EI 2018 Submission Guidelines}

There are different approaches and methods available to evaluate impact, with some more appropriate to certain contexts and types of impact than others.  Guidance on selecting an appropriate evaluation method can be found in the UK Government’s Magenta Book (see section 3.2 – Choosing the appropriate methods).* Approaches include pre- and post- intervention comparisons, interviews, surveys, focus groups, observational studies, and most significant change analysis.  Triangulation of data from multiple sources is recommended where possible. End-user involvement in deciding upon an evaluation approach is valuable, as they may be heavily involved in data collection, depending on the method employed.

Ethics approval may be required in certain cases e.g. if you intend to publish the results of the survey.  Go to the ECU Research Ethics Management System and complete the Proportional Review Checklist (PRC) to ascertain whether ethics approval is necessary.  By answering some brief questions about your planned activity, the PRC will determine whether the activity requires review and the most appropriate review pathway.  If your application under this scheme is successful, you will be required to provide confirmation of ethics status prior to funds being released.  Contact research.ethics@ecu.edu.au if you have any further queries.

Extent refers to the scope, breadth, depth and/or degree of importance of the impact. In your application you only need to explain the impact extent as currently understood/estimated. This is to be validated with the subsequent evidence collected such as cost benefit analyses, end-user testimonials, metrics on quantity of those affected, reported benefits, etc.

An impact pathway is a model which sets out the steps and stages involved in generating real-world impact, beginning with completed research.  The following diagram outlines an impact pathway model.*

_{*As adapted from the work of the Australian Research Council.}

No, an estimate rounded to the nearest $1,000 is sufficient.

No, the USC is not applicable to this scheme and does not need to be added to your funding request.

The funding scheme runs for six months, from 1 January – 30 June 2023.  Any unused funds will be recouped by FBSC at the project close date.

The Lead Chief Investigator’s School ADR should sign off the application. It is recommended that you also consider bringing the application to the attention of all other relevant ADRs.

All applicants, irrespective of the success of their application, will receive in-kind support from Research Services.  This includes tailored feedback on your research impact pathway, advice on capture and ongoing tracking of research impact evidence and assistance with developing and refining a research impact case study narrative.  Support will also be provided to develop a communications plan and produce materials to showcase and promote research impacts.

Further information about the scheme can be found within the Guidelines and Application Form.  Additional queries can be directed to Research Services via researchimpact@ecu.edu.au.