Symplectic Elements blends both quantitative and qualitative data, allowing you to easily build reports and track progress against your institutional goals.
We go beyond traditional metrics with a dedicated Impact Module to support the capture of impact narratives, helping to put the work you do in a wider societal context.
Tracking impact
More and more funding agencies are asking institutions and researchers to provide qualitative evidence of societal, economic and environmental impact generated as a result of externally funded research. For many disciplines, this means going beyond the confines of traditional research metrics, unearthing the stories of how their work is impacting the wider world.
Symplectic Elements helps institutions build their own collection of structured, reusable impact records, ready to be curated into case studies, developed into news stories or included in reports to funders.
Capture and track emerging indicators of impact
Our Impact Module provides an easy method for ongoing capture and collation of evidence of impact, be that a document, web link or written narrative. Impact records can be brief or longform, giving researchers and institutions the tools to build up qualitative evidence over time through a centralized, codified process.
Records of impact can easily be connected to other types of data, including users, publications and grants inside Symplectic Elements; external web links; or supporting documentation.
Differentiate between types of impact
There are many different pathways to impact, making measurement complex. Our stock and custom impact types help you get more granular when tracking and reporting.
- Impact Narrative: Written descriptions of the effect of a piece of research.
- Impact Plan: Information on intended impact and activities planned.
- Impact Indicator: Early indicators such as industry engagement or news items.
- Impact Case Study: Written records linked with associated researchers, outputs and activities.
- Engagement Activity: Social mentions or other types of engagement.
Gathering impact statements for national assessments
Governments around the world are increasingly recognising the importance of tracking the wider societal impacts of research and institutional work. Our Impact Module can be used to collate and curate impact case studies for national assessments such as the REF and ERA, making it easier for you to build submissions and provide evidence to funders.
Track progress toward strategic goals or institutional initiatives
Used in conjunction with Symplectic Elements’ powerful reporting tools, impact records can provide a powerful way of demonstrating progress toward more high level or nebulous goals; for example, a particular internal institutional initiative, or areas of research contributing toward meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We’ve really incorporated the labelling practices of the Sustainable Development Goals into our overall adoption and strategy of Symplectic Elements.”
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