How can you measure the impact of research on society?

I would like to answer this question in the context of “humanity-centric innovation.” Humanity-centric innovation prioritizes societal and environmental well-being over short-term profits. It's driven by understanding human needs and aims for long-term solutions benefiting all. Key metrics include improved quality of life, social inclusion, and educational advancements. It also considers cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, and governance impact. Technological developments are assessed for broad societal benefits. Continuous feedback refines this innovation model, ensuring alignment with societal needs, making it a holistic approach to progress.

I strongly believe that the necessity is the mother of invention and the research is carried out to provide befitting solutions for the social, scientific and economic problems. Measure of research impact is essential to understand the degree of change over the period.

Living in a knowledge-driven economy where misinformation is widespread, measuring the impact of research becomes really important. By doing so, we not only increase the recognition of researchers in society but also raise our standards of excellence. Whether it is at the institutional level or for individual researchers, quantifying the impact of research can greatly help in securing ongoing funding, promoting positive outcomes, and gaining professional and ethical recognition. So, it is crucial that we acknowledge the vital role of researchers as valuable contributors to our overall well-being.

In my experience, research that has the most impact is the one that answers questions related with real-world problems. Impact can be broad - societal, economical, technological - or more specific, depending on the research subject and outcomes. I would like also to stress that when considering impact, it is important to recognize the equal value of "basic" and "applied" research. To generate new knowledge is important to keep investing in both.

Measuring the impact of research on society requires a multifaceted approach, combining traditional bibliometrics, such as citation counts and journal impact factors, with alternative metrics (altmetrics), which capture the wider influence through mentions in policy documents, media coverage, and social media engagement. By employing a combination of these tools, one can gauge both the scholarly impact and the broader societal resonance of research. It's crucial to leverage new bibliometric tools that track real-time interactions with research outputs, as these can offer immediate insights into the public and academic response, complementing the slower-moving traditional indicators of research impact.

In my experience, I have seen both negative and positive impact of innovation: I have found that a very positive impact of digitalization of money transactions in India. Financial Apps have reached every nook and corner of the country and the people get habituated to the digital transactions. I have also found that a very negative impact of demonitization in India and the people have suffered a lot for months. One has to understand the repercussions of any innovation whether it is intended or unintended. WHO has created panic environment across the globe without knowing much details on "Corona" pandemic. Many lost the lives because of the fear that had been created by WHO and many people become inhuman.

One of the methods that I facilitated, in knowing the research impact on society is to conduct a simple phenomenological research. This will greatly help you to validate your research impact and its intensity. some of the outcome of the Phenomenological research can further be taken up for Quantitative analysis or research .

Our world is constantly changing. Although we are not the only species who make use of tools or modify their environment, We are gifted with an insatiable curiosity since our earliest moments of existence. As our knowledge of our surroundings increase, so does our urge to modify them to our own liking. As this happens, we are constantly learning about the environment, and devising means to adapt and be comfortable even in harsh habitats. In my opinion, stimuli motivates us to think. A society at risk is more likely to be innovative than those who are safe and comfortable.

One thing, I have found that the measure of research impact at smaller scale helpful to implement at larger scale. Tata Nano was one of the examples for it. The intended goal is very purposeful and Middle-class people in India have booked the cars as they have trust on Tata. The product has miserably failed and stopped it later. If it's implemented at small scale initially, it might have noticed operational and quality issues so as to minimize them.

Research must always have a purpose, identify an initial state, questions and propose a final state, that is why the most important thing about research in society is, what were those plans for social improvement that this research generated or encouraged, because of these Plans will result in perceived changes in society, which are used to measure the impact of said research. It will always be important to take into account the social context, since there are customs, roots, beliefs, and temporary adaptations that the research must try to communicate in that same language.

A valuable addition to the article on communicating research impact is the importance of storytelling. Effective storytelling enhances research impact communication. It’s not just about facts and data; it’s about creating a narrative that makes your research logical and relevant to your audience. Weaving a compelling story around your findings engages both imagination and emotion. This is especially powerful when dealing with policymakers, the public, or potential funders with limited technical understanding. Storytelling helps them connect with the real-world implications and human stories behind your research.

The measurement of research impact on society is a dynamic issue, as highlighted in various instances throughout the text. I firmly believe that assessing the impact of research on society is an essential component of any research endeavor, as it enhances its overall effectiveness. While the importance of measuring impact is well recognized in theoretical research, such as in certain university studies, it can be a challenging and time-consuming process to identify the most suitable methods for evaluating impact in other research domains.