Section outline

  • Course Overview

    This course outlines and explains the necessity to conduct research that demonstrates an impact, and what this impact should look like. It provides you with tips and tools to prepare a funding application that will get noticed! It will also build an understanding of how to write and present an article that has the potential to score a high impact in terms of different metric measurements.

    Learning Outcomes

    This course will help you to:

    1. Evaluate the impact publishing can have on society
    2. Employ strategies to prepare your article for maximum impact
    3. Navigate the funding application process to prepare a successful grant application
    4. Identify the metrics that are used to measure article importance or rank


    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: Introduction to Impact

        This module will help you to:

        1. Evaluate the importance of impact in research
        2. Compare the different impact types and use these to characterize research impact 

      • Module Two: Assessing Impact in Research

        This module will help you to:

        1. Understand how impact is developed and assessed
        2. Use this knowledge  to determine how you will generate impact in your own research

      • Module Three: Articulating Impact in Your Research

        This module will help you to:

        1. Recognize and describe the impact of your research
        2. Prepare your article to capture and present your research impact effectively

      • Module Four: Your Funding Application

        This module will help you to:

        1. Navigate the funding application process to prepare a successful grant proposal

      • 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. Employ strategies to maximize the impact of your article

      • 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.