Section outline

  • Course Overview

    This course explores how research creates impact beyond academia and how that impact can be planned, communicated, and demonstrated. You'll examine different types of research impact, strategies for engaging stakeholders, approaches to assessing impact, and the role of metrics in evaluating research influence. By the end of the course, you will be better equipped to articulate, evidence, and maximize the impact of your research. 

    Learning Outcomes

    This course will help you to:

    1. Identify and articulate different types of research impact, including the pathways and activities through which impact occurs across different contexts and audiences 

    1. Assess and describe the impact of research using appropriate frameworks, evidence, and approaches while recognizing the challenges associated with impact assessment 

    1. Develop strategies to plan for, communicate, and demonstrate the impact of research to stakeholders beyond academia 

    1. Incorporate impact considerations into research proposals and broader research activities to enhance the potential reach and value of research 

    1. Identify and use research metrics responsibly, distinguishing metric-based indicators from real-world impact and understanding their role in evaluating research 

    1. Recognize the characteristics of articles published in high-impact journals and apply strategies that may improve the visibility and influence of published research 

    From time to time, we will refer to SAGE’s own specific publishing practices so that we can give you the most specific and practical guidance possible. However, these processes will likely be applicable to other Journal publishers. If in doubt, always check their guidelines.

    • Video Transcripts

      You can access all video transcripts here. 

    • Pre-Course Self Assessment

      Before you dive into this course, spend a few moments reflecting on your familiarity with the topic and your current level of skills confidence. 

      You will then re-visit the same questions in our Post-Course Self Assessment and reflect on how the course has helped you develop in confidence and grow your skills.

      • Module One: Understanding Impact

        This module will help you to:

        1. Appreciate the importance of impact in research
        2. Distinguish and know the relationship between real-world impact, academic impact, and journal impact factors 

        3. Characterize research impact by knowing the different types of real world-impact

      • Module Two: Exploring the Pathways, Types, and Value of Research Impact

        This module will help you to:

        1. Identify the different types of research impact, including the timeframes, activities, disciplinary contexts, and pathways through which impact occurs  
        2. Articulate the actual or potential impact of your own research in ways that are meaningful to diverse stakeholders beyond academia  

      • Module Three: Assessing Research Impact: Frameworks, Metrics, and Meaning

        This module will help you to:

        1. Make basic assessments of research impact and appreciate the associated challenges
        2. Recognize and describe the impact of your own research  

      • Module Four: Planning and Communicating Research Impact

        This module will help you to:

        1. Include plans to create impact as part of your research proposal   
        2. Engage and communicate to stakeholders through a strategy to present the impact of your research   

      • Module Five: Impact Factor and Other Metrics

        This module will help you to:

        1. Identify the metrics that are used to measure article importance or rank
        2. Distinguish the difference between these metrics and real-world impact, and use them responsibly   
        3. Write an article that would increase your chance of publishing in a high impact journal   

      • Post-Course Self Assessment

        Now you’ve completed the course, spend a few moments reflecting on where your familiarity with the topics and your confidence skills levels are at now. 

        Has the course helped you develop new skills and grow your confidence?

        You'll need to complete the Post-Course Self Assessment in order to download your certificate. If you didn't do the Pre-Course Self Assessment before starting the course, please go to the top of the page and reflect on your familiarity with the topic and your level of skills confidence before you started the course.

        • Completion: Certificate

          Completing all modules (plus the pre and post-course assessments) will unlock the course certificate, which you can then download here. Your course certificate will only be made available once you have completed all these sections.

          If you have difficulty accessing your certificate, please contact the Sage support team at: onlinesupport@sagepub.co.uk. You can also check out this FAQ page which may be helpful.

          • Give Feedback About This Course

            Did you enjoy the course? Please take two minutes to share your feedback. We use learner feedback in future course updates and developments to provide an excellent learning experience.

          • Accessibility

            We have high standards of accessibility on Sage Campus and as of May/June 2024 all activities within this course are keyboard and screen reader compatible. For more details on accessibility standards, please see the Sage Campus Accessibility Guide.

            For those using assistive technology, please note that within this course:

            • Tab components: JAWS and NVDA behave slightly differently. For NVDA to keep reading, it is best to exit focus mode and go back to browse mode. 
            • Matching: JAWS does not read out question label on dropdown focus.