Capturing Research Impact: The Case Study of a Community Wellbeing Research Partnership. Issue 3 (3rd July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Whiteside, Mary; Thomas, Darlene; Griffin, Tiffany; Stephens, Raelene; Maltzahn, Kathleen; Tsey, Komla; MacLean, Sarah
• Is Part Of: Australian social work. Volume 75:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 292
• Page End: 303
• Publication Date: 2022-07-03
• Subjects: Research Impact -- Case Study -- Substance Misuse -- Indigenous Issues; Social service -- Periodicals; Social service -- Australia -- Periodicals; Social Work -- periodicals; Social Work -- Australia -- periodicals; Periodicals; 361.3
• DOI: 10.1080/0312407X.2020.1862264
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0312-407X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: "Demonstration of impact" is now a key measure of research value. Within and beyond social work, researchers are looking for guidance on how to best demonstrate this. To provide an example, this paper reports on a case study of the impact of a collaborative project conducted by a university and an Aboriginal community organisation in regional Victoria, the aim of which was to promote community wellbeing. The paper presents the case study within the Australian Research Council's impact framework; it is also informed by the ethical research principles of the Lowitja Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research. Some of the challenges associated with documenting more complex and participatory forms of social research are highlighted, including identifying the primary research and differentiating knowledge translation from impact. IMPLICATIONS As a practice-based discipline social work is well placed to benefit from the new emphasis on research impact. There is a need for methods and frameworks to guide researchers to effectively capture impact. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ethical principles for research are imperative for research impact in this context.