Why Research Citations Aren’t the Whole Story: Recognising Impact Beyond Academia
When we think about the influence of academic research, citation counts often come to mind as the primary measure of success. After all, the more a paper is cited by other scholars, the more it is assumed to have contributed to advancing knowledge in its field. But relying solely on citation metrics paints an incomplete picture - and sometimes misses the true, broader impact research can have on society.
The Limits of Citation Metrics
Citations are a useful proxy for academic influence. They show how often other researchers build upon or refer to a study. However, they:
Focus on academic conversations only. Citations reflect engagement within scholarly communities but don’t capture influence outside universities and journals.
Favour certain disciplines and languages. Some fields, like biomedical sciences, generate more citations than others. Similarly, English-language research tends to be cited more widely, overshadowing valuable work in other languages.
Overlook time-lag and indirect impacts. Research can take years or decades to affect policy, industry, or communities, but citation counts may peak quickly and then plateau.
Impact Beyond the Ivory Tower
True research impact often happens outside the confines of academia, reaching into public policy, industry innovation, community well-being, and cultural understanding. Examples include:
Policy influence: Research that informs government decisions, legislation, or public health guidelines.
Practice and innovation: Findings that improve clinical treatments, processes, or environmental management.
Community empowerment: Work that supports marginalized groups, drives social change, or enhances education.
Public engagement: Communicating science to broader audiences through media, art, or public talks.
These contributions might never result in a high citation count but can fundamentally change lives and society.
Visual Communication: Graphical and Visual Abstracts
One powerful way researchers are extending their impact beyond traditional academic channels is through graphical and visual abstracts. These are concise, visually engaging summaries of research findings designed to capture attention quickly and communicate complex ideas in an accessible way.
Why they matter: Visual abstracts can reach audiences who might not read full papers, including policymakers, practitioners, journalists, and the general public.
Amplifying reach: Shared on social media, websites, or presentations, they boost visibility and help translate academic work into actionable knowledge.
Bridging gaps: By distilling key messages visually, they make research findings easier to understand and remember, helping to overcome jargon and technical barriers.
If you’re interested in learning how to communicate your science more effectively through animation and visuals, a fantastic resource is Animate Your Science. This website offers practical tips and tutorials to help researchers bring their findings to life beyond the page.
Why We Need Broader Impact Measures
Recognising impact beyond citations encourages researchers and institutions to:
Pursue research that is meaningful for society, not just for academic prestige.
Engage with stakeholders outside academia - policymakers, practitioners, communities - to ensure research addresses real-world problems.
Value diverse forms of knowledge translation, such as policy briefs, community workshops, or creative outputs.
In recent years, some funding bodies and universities have started to adopt more holistic frameworks to assess research impact, like case studies, altmetrics (social media, news mentions), and evidence of policy or practice change.
What Can Researchers Do?
Document and share broader impacts of their work beyond academic publications.
Collaborate with non-academic partners early and often to co-design relevant research.
Communicate clearly and accessibly to reach wider audiences.
Use tools like graphical abstracts and animation to make research more engaging and understandable.
Be open to diverse types of impact, not just traditional citations.
Citations are just one piece of the impact puzzle. To truly appreciate the value of research, we must look beyond academic references and recognise how scholarship transforms society in multiple, meaningful ways. When we do, we unlock the full potential of research to make a difference - both inside and outside our institutions.
