Measuring Research Impact

In general terms, research impact is how we quantitatively measure the reach and influence of a scholar's work. Numerous metrics exist to help us track the impact an author is having, such as citations to their articles or their impact as an author. Research impact can also describe the effect research has in areas beyond academia, including benefits and influences to society, culture, the environment, and the economy. 

Why is Research Impact important? 

Understanding research impact can help with:

• Justification for tenure and promotion
• Obtaining government funding and grants
• Learning how previous research is being utilized
• Finding out who is using previous research
• Identifying other researchers and potential collaborators in the field
• Decisions about where to publish to achieve the best exposure

Contact the library for assistance

This guide introduces you to the important concepts surrounding research impact. For in-depth consultations or specific questions about measuring your impact, reach out to your subject librarian.

This worksheet may come handy in collecting your research impact metrics. It will help identify both strengths and gaps that have to be addressed in a research impact statement.

We suggest starting with Web of Science and Google Scholar. If you don't find relevant metrics there, proceed to the other resources listed in the header.