Researchers are encouraged to consider the impact of their research beyond academia and the Office of Research is committed to supporting efforts toward aligning research activities with WSU’s land-grant mission.
By considering broader impacts throughout research, scholarly, or creative activities, faculty can be provided with opportunities to ask new questions, gain invaluable insight from multiple knowledge sources, and produce findings that are beneficial to all members of society.
To better inform research questions with more widely applicable and translatable results, investigators can influence the broader impacts of their research by:
- engaging the community to align research goals and activities with community needs and values
- including collaborators with differing perspectives and/or varied expertise
- including investigators from various disciplines
- recruiting a variety of research participants
- engaging with a variety of institutions and organizations
- using infrastructure that provides research opportunities for all
- providing training and mentoring that encourages participation regardless of background
When describing the broader impacts of research, investigators should:
- demonstrate significance by addressing an important need/knowledge gap
- demonstrate influence and provenance of research by linking its effect
- provide proof of impact through measurable change
- identify and engage stakeholders
- connect research with society to mobilize knowledge
- acknowledge opportunities and barriers