Recognising Non-Traditional Research
Professor Kim Wilkins facilitated discussion about using non-traditional research (NTR) as a jumping-off point to think about a range of issues facing HASS research leadership. The discussion explored current practices, challenges, and opportunities for better integrating NTRO into university frameworks and research recognition systems.
The following questions provided a framework for discussion:
- How is NTR positioned in relation to end users?
- How might it model different impact pathways?
- How might NTR build trust in institutions and increase social licence? And in terms of any future research assessment exercise, how does it challenge our thinking about how to measure the value of our work?
The meeting highlighted concerns about how NTR is recognised and assessed. By adopting more inclusive frameworks, focusing on impact narratives, and fostering collaboration, institutions can better support NTR and their contribution to both academia and society. Members emphasised the importance of continued dialogue, shared resources, and case studies to drive change.
Key Approaches Discussed
- Developing Guidelines and Definitions:
- Institutions are creating or revising guidelines to better define and support NTR.
- Examples include requiring research statements and evidence of peer review or reception for NTR to be counted as research outputs.
- Some universities are adopting broader terminology like “Project-Based Research” or “Creative Research.”
- Shifting Metrics:
- Current metrics (for example, citation counts, H-index) fail to capture the value of NTR.
- Participants advocated for more qualitative and narrative-based assessment methods, emphasising storytelling and impact narratives.
- Calls for metrics that account for community empowerment, cultural significance, and engagement.
- Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Approaches:
- Building cross-disciplinary teams that include creative researchers to enhance impact storytelling and advocacy.
- Emphasis on collaboration with external partners and stakeholders from the conceptualization stage to improve relevance and societal impact.
- Advocacy and Awareness:
- Internal advocacy within universities to ensure NTR is recognized beyond traditional metrics.
- Workshops and resources to educate creators and reviewers about the value and evaluation of NTRs.
- Leveraging community engagement and external partnerships to strengthen the case for NTRs.
Key Takeaways
- Impact Beyond Academia: NTR excels at engaging external audiences, addressing real-world issues, and creating tangible benefits for communities. This includes public art installations, digital media, policy recommendations, and more.
- Cultural and Institutional Change: A culture shift is needed within universities to value NTROs without relying solely on traditional research frameworks (e.g., ERA). This includes embedding NTRO recognition in workload discussions and research planning.
- Broadening the Narrative: NTR require imaginative, risk-taking approaches and storytelling to demonstrate their value. This is especially crucial in advocating for their recognition within institutions and to external stakeholders.
- Challenges of Standardization: The diversity of NTR and their impact pathways (e.g., experiential, emotional, viral) makes standardizing evaluation criteria difficult. Existing frameworks often exclude or marginalize these outputs.
Common Themes
- Need for Recognition:
- NTR is often undervalued despite their significant contributions to public engagement, policy influence, and cultural enrichment.
- Importance of Narrative:
- Storytelling, including research statements and narratives of impact, is crucial for advocating the value of NTR.
- Limitations of Metrics:
- Quantitative measures frequently fail to capture the essence of NTR. Alternative frameworks are needed to evaluate impact meaningfully.
- Collaboration and Community Engagement:
- NTROs thrive on interdisciplinary collaboration and stakeholder involvement, which are vital for creating real-world impact.
Challenges Highlighted
- Institutional Resistance: Many universities remain reliant on traditional metrics, making it difficult to integrate NTROs into research frameworks.
- Defining Research: Differentiating NTR as research versus creative outputs with non-research purposes remains a contentious issue.
- Burden on Creative Researchers: Creative researchers face additional challenges due to niche audiences and skepticism about their outputs’ value.
- Sustainability of Advocacy: Advocacy for NTR often arises only during workload or policy discussions, requiring more consistent efforts to embed recognition into university culture.
