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Methods for mapping the impact of social sciences and humanities—A literature review

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  • David Budtz Pedersen
  • Jonas Følsgaard Grønvad
  • Rolf Hvidtfeldt

Abstract

This article explores the current literature on ‘research impact’ in the social sciences and humanities (SSH). By providing a comprehensive review of available literature, drawing on national and international experiences, we take a systematic look at the impact agenda within SSH. The primary objective of this article is to examine key methodological components used to assess research impact comparing the advantages and disadvantages of each method. The study finds that research impact is a highly complex and contested concept in the SSH literature. Drawing on the strong methodological pluralism emerging in the literature, we conclude that there is considerable room for researchers, universities, and funding agencies to establish impact assessment tools directed towards specific missions while avoiding catch-all indicators and universal metrics.

Suggested Citation

  • David Budtz Pedersen & Jonas Følsgaard Grønvad & Rolf Hvidtfeldt, 2020. "Methods for mapping the impact of social sciences and humanities—A literature review," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 29(1), pages 4-21.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:rseval:v:29:y:2020:i:1:p:4-21.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/reseval/rvz033
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Kun & Wupur, Abduhalik & Abudouguli, Ailifeire & Yang, Guo-liang, 2023. "Measuring the knowledge transfer efficiency of social science in Chinese universities from a think tank perspective," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    2. Ole Henning Sørensen & Jakob Bjørner & Andreas Holtermann & Johnny Dyreborg & Jorid Birkelund Sørli & Jesper Kristiansen & Steffen Bohni Nielsen, 2022. "Measuring societal impact of research—Developing and validating an impact instrument for occupational health and safety," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 31(1), pages 118-131.
    3. Melissa Xiaohui Qin, 2024. "A systematic synthesis and analysis of English-language Shuōwén scholarship," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Václav Linkov & Kieran O’Doherty & Eunsoo Choi & Gyuseog Han, 2021. "Linguistic Diversity Index: A Scientometric Measure to Enhance the Relevance of Small and Minority Group Languages," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(2), pages 21582440211, April.
    5. Dotti, Nicola Francesco & Walczyk, Julia, 2022. "What is the societal impact of university research? A policy-oriented review to map approaches, identify monitoring methods and success factors," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    6. Julian Hamann & Wolfgang Kaltenbrunner, 2022. "Biographical representation, from narrative to list: The evolution of curricula vitae in the humanities, 1950 to 2010," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 31(4), pages 438-451.
    7. Jorrit P Smit & Laurens K Hessels, 2021. "The production of scientific and societal value in research evaluation: a review of societal impact assessment methods [Systems Thinking, Knowledge and Action: Towards Better Models and Methods]," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 30(3), pages 323-335.
    8. Thornton, Philip & Dijkman, Jeroen & Herrero, Mario & Szilagyi, Lili & Cramer, Laura, 2022. "Viewpoint: Aligning vision and reality in publicly funded agricultural research for development: A case study of CGIAR," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    9. Andrea Bonaccorsi & Filippo Chiarello & Gualtiero Fantoni, 2021. "Impact for whom? Mapping the users of public research with lexicon-based text mining," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(2), pages 1745-1774, February.
    10. Hannah Durrant & Eleanor MacKillop, 2022. "University policy engagement bodies in the UK and the variable meanings of and approaches to impact," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 31(3), pages 372-384.
    11. Elizabeth N. Farley-Ripple & Kathryn Oliver & Annette Boaz, 2020. "Mapping the community: use of research evidence in policy and practice," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(1), pages 1-10, December.

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