The Research Impact Agenda

5 The (un)intended consequences of impact: university, society, and economy

DOI: 10.4324/9781003090465-5

5.1 Introduction

In the previous chapter, we focused on the ‘impact’ of impact, particularly with respect to different groups of academics on the basis of different aspects of diversity. Amongst other things, we highlighted that the current impact process as constituted under UK Research Excellence Framework (REF) rules and guidelines, results in problematic, exclusionary outcomes for women, early career researchers, and – very likely – members of other minority groups. In this current chapter, we discuss the intended and perhaps unintended consequences of impact from a meso- and macro-perspective, considering effects at the level of the ...