Making an impact: politics and persuasions in 21st century higher education

Edited book (chapter)

Doyle, Joanne and McDonald, Lisa. 2016. "Making an impact: politics and persuasions in 21st century higher education." Trimmer, Karen (ed.) Political pressures on educational and social research: international perspectives. Oxon, United Kingdom. Routledge. pp. 94-103
Chapter Title

Making an impact: politics and persuasions in 21st century
higher education

Book Chapter CategoryEdited book (chapter)
ERA Publisher ID3137
Book TitlePolitical pressures on educational and social research: international perspectives
AuthorsDoyle, Joanne (Author) and McDonald, Lisa (Author)
EditorsTrimmer, Karen
Page Range94-103
Chapter Number8
Number of Pages10
Year2016
PublisherRoutledge
Place of PublicationOxon, United Kingdom
ISBN9781138947122
9781315670263
Web Address (URL)https://www.routledge.com/Political-Pressures-on-Educational-and-Social-Research-International-perspectives/Trimmer/p/book/9781138947122
Abstract

The Higher Education impact agenda is influencing the way research is conceptualised and articulated. Researchers and research funders are favouring applied research projects that demonstrate the real-world benefits of research expenditure. There is increasing emphasis on supporting research that addresses society’s needs and challenges. Real-world impact is sought as a way to ensure that impact extends beyond academic citation rates and impact factors.

The contemporary focus on impact is encouraging applied or solutions-focused research. The pressure to address funding imperatives rather than lead innovation and discovery is placing pressure on the production of rigorous, independent and ethical research. A series of questions arises. Are researchers pressured to reshape research objectives to suit funding priorities? Does funded research reporting tend toward noting only ‘palatable’ outcomes which align with program objectives rather than ameliorate the topic or issue at hand? What do such questions imply about the structure, nature and worth of research today?

This chapter will explore how political persuasions may influence the initiation, progress and reporting of Higher Education research in the 21st century, and argue for the need to more broadly conceptualise what constitutes research impact.

Keywordsresearch impact; higher education; higher education research
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020390303. Higher education
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Byline AffiliationsUniversity of Southern Queensland
Australian Digital Futures Institute
School of Linguistics, Adult and Specialist Education
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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