# data[].attributes.headline
Better understanding of pathways to impact

# data[].attributes.subject
Better understanding of pathways to impact

# data[].attributes.headline
Evidence collection and impact tracking, esp. for ECRs and Students

# data[].attributes.subject
Evidence collection and impact tracking, esp. for ECRs and Students

# data[].attributes.headline
Individualised impact plans, especially for ECRs and DPhils

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Individualised impact plans, especially for ECRs and DPhils

# data[].attributes.headline
Share impact case studies, with impact pathways clarified in examples

# data[].attributes.subject
Share impact case studies, with impact pathways clarified in examples

# data[].attributes.headline
Share examples of impact embedded into research funding applications

# data[].attributes.subject
Share examples of impact embedded into research funding applications

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Online resources giving step-by-step information re embedding impact into research projects

# data[].attributes.subject
Online resources giving step-by-step information re embedding impact into research projects

# data[].attributes.headline
Online evaluation and evidence collection tools

# data[].attributes.subject
Online evaluation and evidence collection tools

# data[].attributes.headline
Recognise & celebrate impact achievement - impact awards at departmental or divisional level

# data[].attributes.subject
Recognise & celebrate impact achievement - impact awards at departmental or divisional level

# data[].attributes.headline
Better communication about available resources

# data[].attributes.subject
Better communication about available resources

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How to write funding applications - what does a successful funding application look like?

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How to write funding applications - what does a successful funding application look like?

# data[].attributes.headline
Relationship brokerage - help to make initial contacts with external stakeholders

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Relationship brokerage - help to make initial contacts with external stakeholders

# data[].attributes.headline
Paid roles for DPhils in supporting academic staff in delivering impact activities

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Paid roles for DPhils in supporting academic staff in delivering impact activities

# data[].attributes.headline
Financial and other resources for students and ECRs to maximise and track impact

# data[].attributes.subject
Financial and other resources for students and ECRs to maximise and track impact

# data[].attributes.headline
Form a working group to draft a strategy proposal?

# data[].attributes.subject
Form a working group to draft a strategy proposal?

# data[].attributes.headline
Different strategies for different types of research - aim for a balanced REF portfolio

# data[].attributes.subject
Different strategies for different types of research - aim for a balanced REF portfolio

# data[].attributes.headline
Support in translating academic research into language / conduits suitable for different audiences 

# data[].attributes.subject
Support in translating academic research into language / conduits suitable for different audiences 

# data[].attributes.headline
Help for ECRs to build professional networks

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Help for ECRs to build professional networks

# data[].attributes.headline
Open academic seminars to clinicians in NHS services (followed by surveys)

# data[].attributes.subject
Open academic seminars to clinicians in NHS services (followed by surveys)

# data[].attributes.headline
Buy-out funds for academics involved in teaching so that they can undertake impact activities

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Buy-out funds for academics involved in teaching so that they can undertake impact activities

# data[].attributes.headline
Time-research-impact balance - how do we approach this?

# data[].attributes.subject
Time-research-impact balance - how do we approach this?

# data[].attributes.headline
How do we help / value those working on topic areas that are important, and potentially niche within the department, who may struggle to have impact?

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How do we help / value those working on topic areas that are important, and potentially niche within the department, who may struggle to have impact?

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Allows each researcher to access help, support, advice and resources to allow them to engage in impact activity

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Allows each researcher to access help, support, advice and resources to allow them to engage in impact activity

# data[].attributes.headline
Facilitates shared learning among department members

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Facilitates shared learning among department members

# data[].attributes.headline
Recognises when impact potential for a project has been reached

# data[].attributes.subject
Recognises when impact potential for a project has been reached

# data[].attributes.headline
Link with Communications early on and regularly so they can help identify opportunity for communications - internal and external 

# data[].attributes.subject
Link with Communications early on and regularly so they can help identify opportunity for communications - internal and external 

# data[].attributes.headline
Write case studies with communications in mind: clear and accessible plain language, engaging content and with a short synopsis (which can be used for news articles or social media posts).  

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Write case studies with communications in mind: clear and accessible plain language, engaging content and with a short synopsis (which can be used for news articles or social media posts).  

# data[].attributes.body
An example of this is the REF 2021 case studies linked here: DSPI REF 2021 results | Department of Social Policy and Intervention (ox.ac.uk)

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Today [12/05/2022] the UK funding bodies have published the results of the UK’s most recent national research assessment exercise, the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021. Research from the Department of Social Policy and Intervention (DSPI) was submitted to Unit of Assessment 20 along with social policy research from a number of other departments.

In Unit of Assessment 20, 62% of DSPI’s submission was judged to be 4* (the highest score available, for research quality that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance, and rigour). The research assessed in the submission contributes to a diverse range of fields within social policy, including poverty and social inequality, child and family welfare, violence prevention, political economy and welfare states.

Research from the DSPI was submitted to Unit of Assessment 20 along with social policy research from a number of other departments: Oxford Internet Institute; Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford School of Global and Area Studies, Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, the Rees Centre, and the Oxford Martin School.

Welcoming the results, Jane Barlow, Head of Department said: 'This is an excellent achievement and reflects the extremely high quality, breadth and diversity of research being undertaken on social policy within DSPI and more widely across the University. I should like to convey my gratitude to the faculty, researchers, research support staff, who made this result possible, and for all of their hard work in preparing for REF over the past few years.'

Some of the impacts of our research were also captured in the submission, with highlights as follows:

1. Case study: Cash + Care: Transforming HIV outcomes for adolescents in Africa through social protection.
Over two million young people are better protected from risks of HIV and AIDS, after the University of Oxford combined ‘cash with care’ in poverty alleviation programmes - which was so impactful, it became a ‘templated’ approach for global and national policies. Social scientists saw risk behaviours fall by 50-70%, non-adherence to life saving drugs fell from 54-18%, and rates of unprotected sex fell from 49% to 3%. The results led to similar ‘cash and care’-led approaches being introduced within adolescent policy and service delivery by agencies across the world – including the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), UNICEF, UNAIDS and national governments including South Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In addition, research was so impactful, it was deemed to support delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As a result, lead researcher Lucie Cluver was invited to join the Advisory Board of the US government’s $1 billion flagship HIV-prevention programme – which saw new HIV diagnoses fall by 25-40% in the areas it was implemented. Her team were also invited to write the South African National Adolescent and Youth Health Policy 2017-2022.

2. Case study: Preventing child abuse globally through research-driven parenting programmes
Researchers from the University of Oxford have prevented 81,000 cases of severe child abuse after co-creating evidence-based parenting programmes which were so effective, content was replicated in 24 countries and 22 languages. Among the results was a 28% fall in abusive parenting of young children, and a 45% drop in physical and emotional abuse of teenagers. In response, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations (UN) included the programmes in their global policies and websites, and content was endorsed by UNICEF, USAID, CDC and Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children.

3. Case study: Teens and Screens - shaping policy and public debate.
Social scientists from the University of Oxford helped to ‘bust a decades-long myth’ that 'screen time' is inherently damaging to children – with insights helping to shape the UK government’s Online Harms White Paper – the blueprint for online policy. Research was cited by three branches of government - The UK Chief Medical Officer (UKCMO), the Digital, Culture, Media and Sports Committee (DCMS), and the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee; (HCSTSC) – which dubbed it “the best quality” work available of its kind. Meanwhile, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) used Oxford’s research to inform its new guide to screen time, targeted at paediatricians and parents.

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Today [12/05/2022] the UK funding bodies have published the results of the UK's most recent national research assessment exercise, the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021. Research from the Department of Social Policy and Intervention (DSPI) was submitted to Unit of Assessment 20 along with social policy research from a number of other departments.

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Impact for much of the research in DSPI means working closely with the people affected by some very difficult subjects. This will inevitably be emotionally challenging for staff involved with the research so I propose a continuing programme of well-being activities, in order to support this additional effort. Impact for DSPI could require deeper reflection as well as some of practical skills development already on offer at the university, so I think we should put an infrastructure in place and consider equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging alongside our research and research support.

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Impact funding for students & ECRs that extends contract time

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Impact funding for students & ECRs that extends contract time

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One of the challenges for fixed time researchers & lecturers to do an impact project is that it takes time away from an already short contract (the funding doesn't pay for the time of the ECR) - can we explore a scheme that extends fixed term researchers' time if they win funding for a public engagement project?

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Develop an impact strategy that is not solely geared towards interventions or very detailed policy recommendations

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Develop an impact strategy that is not solely geared towards interventions or very detailed policy recommendations

# data[].attributes.body
Impact can also be about changing the framing of an issue - even though this is harder to evidence in a case study, definitely possible to win funding for this type of engagement.

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Identify and build on the things we are already good at

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Identify and build on the things we are already good at

# data[].attributes.headline
Use a few specific mechanisms to collaborate and make the time for strategy implementation & impact (e.g. such as resaerch teams including Dphil students, regular workshops etc.)

# data[].attributes.subject
Use a few specific mechanisms to collaborate and make the time for strategy implementation & impact (e.g. such as resaerch teams including Dphil students, regular workshops etc.)

# data[].attributes.headline
Impact through academic activism, not just "knowledge brokers"

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Impact through academic activism, not just "knowledge brokers"

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There are likely to be many different views in the department regarding whether research can be "objective". For example, feminist academics believe that frames & values influence the research questions we ask & how we tackle them. Some of us have explicit aims of social justice and aim to engage with activists to have impact from this perspective.

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Think about what impact looks like when the research includes many countries

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Think about what impact looks like when the research includes many countries

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Much/most(?) policy knowledge comes from multi-country studies, because this is how we get policy variation! That doesn't mean that multi-country studies aren't useful for influencing policy in a specific country, on the contrary.

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Draw on department members' professional, non-academic contacts and experience

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Draw on department members' professional, non-academic contacts and experience

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Many students and some postdocs have extensive prior professional experience (and therefore contacts) in a wide range of contexts & sectors beyond academia. These contacts and skills could be leveraged to a much greater extent for impact pathways. Same goes for volunteer or activist networks. Relatedly, some of us know artists that would be interested in receiving public engagement funding through a research project.

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Defines impact inclusively, to reflect the wide range of research cultures and beliefs in the department

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Defines impact inclusively, to reflect the wide range of research cultures and beliefs in the department

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Defining impact in a way that has relevance for intervention, policy, and political-economy researchers. And for both the objective and activist researchers among us :)

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Comms support for getting the word out about recent publications - eg., blog posts, press releases, tweets, etc...

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Comms support for getting the word out about recent publications - eg., blog posts, press releases, tweets, etc...

# data[].attributes.body
I know that I 'ought' to do this for each publicaton, and have tried (unsuccessfully) pitching op-eds and pieces to The Conversation. Support of time/expertise would be really valuable to me, as I often might try one op-ed pitch, but then just need to move on producing new research, teaching, working with students, etc... so there's just never time to make this a priority