A proposed framework and tool for non-economic research impact measurement

ABSTRACT

Research impact features heavily in debates about ‘the measured university’ and is now formally assessed by governments in the UK and Australia. Yet clear guidance on how impact can be measured in non-monetary ways is often lacking because of confused thinking and the context-specific nature of outcomes. To help resolve this, we first propose a general impact model of inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes framework. Then, using a survey approach of research users, we measure outcomes at different levels of abstraction using usefulness as the central construct and impact categories from the European (EU) and Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The survey measures are simple, comparable between different impact cases, cost-effective, externally verifiable, and easily administered by those for whom impact measurement is new and puzzling. They can also be combined to form an impact index to address criticism that there is little standardisation in impact measurement. To improve the standardisation of context-specific measures, we suggest a common methodology for deriving these (SROI). The article discusses limitations of using surveys including administration, self-report data, and impact timescale problems, and suggests ways to reduce these. Implications for researchers, research managers, and assessors interested in measuring impact, such as who should do it and pay for it, are discussed.     

从时间纬度看中西新闻叙事差异

时间在新闻叙事中是个重要问题,而东西方对时间的认识和使用体现出各种差异,例如,时间循环性和时间线行性差异,多向时间思维和单向时间思维差异,以及事间的整体性和时间的可分割性等诸多差异。这些思维差异也反映在新闻叙事中,微妙地影响着新闻叙事的思路和结构。     

高速公路环境影响评价现存问题及对策

分析了高速公路生命周期各阶段(前期准备及设计阶段、施工阶段、营运阶段)的工作程序对环境影响评价工作产生的影响,分别叙述了各阶段对环境产生的影响及其特点,针对这些影响和特点提出了高速公路环境影响评价工作在协调性,报告书编制周期,公众参与,环保措施有效性、可行性等方面存在的问题,探讨了政策及技术层面的对策。     

MFV-Class: a multi-faceted visualization tool of object classes

Classes are key software components in an object-oriented software system. In many industrial OO software systems,there are some classes that have complicated structure and relationships. So in the processes of software maintenance,testing,software reengineering,software reuse and software restructure,it is a challenge for software engineers to understand these classes thoroughly. This paper proposes a class comprehension model based on constructivist learning theory,and implements a software visualization tool(MFV-Class)to help in the comprehension of a class. The tool provides multiple views of class to uncover manifold facets of class contents. It enables visualizing three object-oriented metrics of classes to help users focus on the understanding process. A case study was conducted to evaluate our approach and the toolkit.     

Peering inside research networks: Some observations on the effect of the intensity of collaboration on the variability of research quality

Although there is some general agreement that increasing levels of collaboration amongst academics produce research papers that receive more citations, and that larger numbers of citations often imply higher quality, the issue of collaboration and its effect upon research output remains a controversial area with a wide range of views of what role collaboration plays and its general implications for quality. This paper re-examines the process of collaboration within research networks. It considers the role of collaboration and its effect on quality by studying the relationship between the level of interaction within research networks (collaboration) and the extent of variability of quality within those research networks. Twenty-two scientific networks from Austria are examined. The findings of the analysis are that increasing levels of collaboration are strongly associated with lower levels of variability of quality within each network. The conclusion is therefore drawn that collaboration at the level of the research network acts upon research quality qua peer review and that this peer review effect is inherent throughout the research process.     

论知识经济的报酬递增特点及其经济管理意义

报酬递增是知识经济的基本特点,可以说知识经济在本质上就是报酬递增的经济。本文基于作者对报酬递增现象的多年研究,深入探讨了知识经济作为报酬递增经济对经济管理的理论和实践产生的深远影响。     

现代信息业发展的作用及特点

本文阐述了21世纪信息业发展的作用,第一,信息将成为第一生产力;第二,信息将成为新的经济增长核心;第三,信息将成为社会发展的主流,分析提出了信息业发展的5个特点。     

汤屯高速公路沿线生态环境现状及其影响评价

汤口至屯溪高速公路经过黄山风景区旁边和穿越省级天湖自然保护区。采用实地调查和卫星遥感资料分析得知：从起点至琶塘为山岭重丘区,呈森林生态系统类型,以人工林、灌丛和茶园为主,从琶塘至终点为平原微丘区。呈农田生态系统类型;林地乔、灌、草总盖度在85％以上。公路中心线两侧500米内植物现存生物量约为370000吨。永久征地损失的生物量约为12000吨;树龄100年以上的古树名木32棵;项目区有国家二级重点保护植物12种。未见国家一级重点保护植物;根据现场调查和历史资料,区域内有国家一级重点保护动物5种,国家二级重点保护动物27种：公路以桥隧通过自然保护区的缓冲区和实验区,桥隧可望成为动物通行的廊道,本项目对自然保护区和野生动植物影响相对较小。建议加强施工期间的管理,严防外来种入侵,开展生态监测。     

国际武术套路规则对竞技武术套路运动训练影响的研究

2007年国际武术套路规则的实施,在提高国际武术比赛竞争性的同时,也影响到武术套路的训练。采用文献资料、调查访谈等研究方法,将2007年国际武术竞赛规则与2003年武术规则进行比较,探讨国际规则的实施对武术套路训练的影响,以及由此所应采取的方法和策略。     

Beyond individual-centric privacy: Information technology in social systems

In the public debate, social implications of information technology are mainly seen through the privacy lens. Impact assessments of information technology are also often limited to privacy impact assessments, which are focused on individual rights and well-being, as opposed to the social environment. In this article, I argue that this perspective is too narrow, in terms of understanding the complexity of the relation between information technology and society, as well as in terms of directions for managing this relation. I use systems theory to show that current approaches focus mostly on individual impact of information technology developments rather than their mediating role in society itself. I argue that this should be complemented by an analysis of impact on individuals (psychic systems) via co-construction of the environment (social system). I then take up the question of what the role of information technology in social systems would look like in terms of the social relations of trust and power, and how this can complement privacy in discussions on impacts of information technology.