You need to be able to demonstrate the impact of your research when applying for Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funding, as well as when you receive an award.
Arts and humanities research often creates impact differently from research in other disciplines.
Your research might:
- inform museums, archives or heritage practice
- influence public understanding of history, culture, language or identity
- support community participation and engagement
- influence education and learning
- shape public policy or professional practice
- contribute to the creative and cultural sectors
Impact examples
Examples of arts and humanities research impact could include:
- a history project informing local heritage interpretation
- archaeology research supporting place-making decisions
- language research improving intercultural understanding
- creative arts research increasing cultural participation
- philosophy research informing ethical debates
Engagement, knowledge exchange and impact
Strong funding proposals clearly link research, knowledge exchange and impact. These terms are related but different.
Engagement connects researchers with audiences, communities and stakeholders.
Knowledge exchange involves sharing expertise and ideas with non-academic partners.
Impact is the change or benefit that results.
For example, running a workshop is engagement. A partner organisation changing its practice because of what it learned may demonstrate impact.
See how the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029 defines impact and engagement.
Consider impact early
You should consider the potential impact of your research as you start to plan the research itself.
As well as thinking about which areas of thought and practice your research could influence, consider:
- how to communicate the impact of your research
- the potential limits of your research impact
- any possible risks in achieving your desired impact
Impact in context
Also consider the wider context of your research impact. Ask:
- what difference could this research make?
- who could benefit?
- who should be involved?
- how might change happen?
- how will you know?
Working closely with groups affected by your research (sometimes known as ‘co-production’) can extend and deepen your impact. You might work together on research design, as well as holding participatory sessions such as seminars or workshops throughout your research.
Responsible impact
Some arts and humanities projects might involve sensitive histories, contested topics, public visibility or work with particular communities.
Where appropriate, seek advice from communications, ethics, safeguarding or research support teams.
Track your impact path
Tracking the path of your research impact in a consistent way helps to demonstrate impact convincingly.
You could use a table or other format to record your research:
- inputs
- activities
- outputs
- outcomes
- benefits
- impacts
Inputs
Inputs are the resources that make research possible, such as funding, use of facilities and materials and staff time.
Activities
Activities are what you do with the inputs, such as holding workshops, delivering a service or undergoing training.
Outputs
Outputs are the direct, tangible results of your activities, such as publications, exhibitions or materials you distribute.
Outcomes
Outcomes are changes in the short or medium term resulting from your outputs, such as greater knowledge, improved skills or stronger networks.
Benefits
Benefits are long-term positive effects for individuals or groups on the way to lasting impacts, such as better understanding of a subject, cultural enrichment, greater wellbeing or stronger community connections.
Impacts
Impacts are broad, systemic or social changes that happen over time, such as conceptual shifts or greater participation in civic life by underrepresented groups. When describing impacts, ask: “What changed because of this research?”
Monitor impact indicators
Monitoring impact indicators helps to make the effects of your research concrete.
Indicators of your research impact could include:
- reach – audience or participant numbers at events, exhibitions or performances
- engagement – views, downloads or shares of digital content
- behaviour change – uptake of tools or recommendations by partner organisations
- references – mentions in policy documents, media coverage or peer-produced content
- feedback – such as testimonials from stakeholders or beneficiaries
- visual record – photos or videos of exhibitions or events
- wider impact – economic or employment-related data, such as jobs created
Non-quantifiable impacts
While you need to monitor your research impact systematically, AHRC recognises that not all impacts can be captured through simple metrics.
Some impacts emerge slowly and may only become visible after a project ends. Continue collecting evidence where appropriate after the award period.
Use a logic model
Being clear about the difference between impact stages can help avoid some of the pitfalls the REF lists in linking research inputs and impact, including:
- limited evidence
- describing activities instead of impacts
- treating disseminating (sharing) research as impact
Logic models are a rigorous, visual way to show how research leads from inputs to impact. See an example for public health practitioners on GOV.UK.
Communicate research impact
Once you have indicators of the impact of your research, you can communicate that impact.
You should:
- focus on outcomes rather than process
- create opportunities for dialogue
- tailor content to your audience
Tailor content to the audience
For public audiences:
- explain why the research matters
- use relatable examples
- avoid technical language
- focus on real-world benefits
For funders and policymakers:
- explain what changed
- explain who benefited
- provide evidence of scale and significance
- show policy or strategic relevance
Engage with the media
Speak to your organisation’s communications team to engage with the media about your research. They will help you to:
- decide which media to target, from the specialist to the national press
- form key messages from your research
- evaluate your media campaign
Sustain and expand impact
Research impact often develops beyond the lifetime of an award. To sustain or expand the impact of your research, you might want to:
- test your ideas in practice
- build partnerships
- develop new products or services
Routes to sustaining or expanding your impact include:
- follow-on funding
- partnerships with cultural, public, third-sector or industry organisations
- licensing intellectual property
- social enterprises and commercial ventures
- more public engagement or knowledge exchange
Opportunities that AHRC provides to help researchers develop and extend impact include Proof of Concept awards and impact acceleration accounts.
ARC Accelerator provides training, mentoring and funding to support commercialisation of arts and humanities research.
Impact focus: case studies
Case studies are one of the most compelling ways to communicate the impact of your research.
Start with impact
A case study does more than describe research. It tells a clear, engaging story. To capture the audience’s attention, start with the positive impact of your research, rather than with the research itself. Explain who benefited, how and the wider significance of that impact.
If relevant, describe short and long-term benefits and use a mix of qualitative and quantitative evidence.
Show how change happened
Activities and outputs on their own are not enough in a case study. You need to show how they resulted in change.
Table 1: Examples of how to tie outputs to impacts in a case study
| Output | Impact | Enough for a case study? |
|---|---|---|
| 2,000 people attend an exhibition on local heritage | Visitors reported a greater sense of belonging and connection to the place they live | Yes |
| Report published | Government department used findings to develop new guidance | Yes |
| 15,000 downloads of a toolkit | No evidence of how it has been adopted or used | Not yet |
| Five journal articles published | No evidence of influence beyond academia | Not yet |
Case study: example
This example case study shows how research responded to a challenge and had a concrete, lasting impact.
Case study summary
In plain language, introduce the research challenge and real-world benefit.
Example: Many historic town centres struggle to balance economic growth with protection of local heritage. Researchers worked with local authorities, heritage organisations and independent businesses to develop evidence of how historic high streets can be revitalised without compromising their cultural significance.
The research:
- influenced regeneration plans
- attracted investment
- helped create heritage-led town centres that support local businesses, tourism and community pride
Research description
Give more detail of how research underpinned impact.
Example: Between 2018 and 2022, researchers examined how historic buildings, cultural assets and creative businesses contributed to the long-term success of town centres. Working with planners, local authorities and heritage organisations, the project identified practical approaches to integrating heritage into economic regeneration strategies.
Research benefits
Explain what changed because of the research, focusing on benefits rather than describing activities or outputs.
Example: The research influenced regeneration strategies adopted by several local authorities, placing heritage at the forefront of town centre renewal. As a result, previously vacant historic buildings were brought back into use as creative workspaces, supporting small businesses and community organisations. The research provided the evidence base for heritage-led regeneration, helping local authorities shape planning decisions, attract investment and revitalise historic town centres.
Impact evidence
Give evidence of the scale and significance of the impact. Combine quantitative with qualitative examples, where possible.
Example: The research influenced regeneration strategies across six local authorities, contributing to more than £18 million of heritage-led investment. More than 40 historic buildings were restored and brought back into productive use, supporting more than 120 jobs in creative and cultural businesses. Visitor footfall rose by 22% across participating high streets, while business occupancy rates also improved.
Wider priorities
Link the research to government or organisational priorities or to wider social concerns.
Example: The research supports economic growth, place-making and the creative industries by demonstrating how heritage can be a catalyst for investment, regeneration and stronger communities.