This paper explores the impact of the introduction of Impact as a measure of research quality within British Social Anthropology. Whilst measuring Impact threatens to instrumentalise its research agenda, it might also expand the discipline’s public engagement.
Paper long abstract
UK Higher Education has become something of a pioneer in the development of Audit Culture within the sector. One of its more recent innovations is the introduction of a measure of Impact in the Research Excellence Framework - a national audit of research quality, due to take place in 2013/14. This paper explores the potential and actual impact of the introduction of Impact as a measure of research quality, for Social Anthropology. On the one hand, it has the potential to expand out Social Anthropology's engagement with public audiences of various types; on the other, it threatens to instrumentalise the discipline's research agenda. The paper traces the ongoing debate about Impact within British Social Anthropology.