Paper short abstract:

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.