Research for Impact from Coursera

This course is about the Research for Impact approach - a set of principles and practices that will help you to make your research more impactful. Traditionally, the goals and outcomes of research projects were to contribute knowledge and communicate this knowledge through academic publications and journal articles. But If we truly want our research to have an impact, we need to do research differently. Research that influences change in policy, practice, behaviour, and attitudes.

On this six-week journey, Jesse DeMaria-Kinney and Mark New share their experience of the Adaptation at Scale for Semi-arid Regions (ASSAR) Project, where they developed and refined the Research for Impact approach. They are joined by researchers and practitioners who followed this approach in their research. Together you will explore the five elements of the Research for Impact approach, i.e. Theory of Change; Stakeholder Engagement and Strategic Partnerships, Strategic Communication, Capacity Development; and Influencing. You will also get opportunities to hear from researchers and practitioners on the ground who followed this approach and hopefully become inspired and equipped to incorporate these principles into your own research projects.

The course is free to enroll and take. You will be offered the option of purchasing a certificate of completion, which you become eligible for if you successfully complete the course requirements. This can be an excellent way of staying motivated! Financial Aid is also available.

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Research for Impact

Welcome to Research for Impact. We begin by introducing the Research for Impact approach and its elements. Then we look more closely at the ‘wicked’ problems that this attempts to tackle and the complex systems within which the work takes place. Transdisciplinarity is an important theme in the Research for Impact approach, and so we discuss its role in addressing wicked problems such as climate change adaptation. Chandni Singh and Hillary Masundire share their personal experiences around using the Research for Impact approach to bring change in their communities. We also hear from students, researchers and practitioners speak about how the Research for Impact approach was used in their own research projects.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores the 'wicked' problems that the Research for Impact approach attempts to tackle and the complex systems within which the work takes place

Emphasizes transdisciplinarity as an important theme in the Research for Impact approach, underscoring its relevance in addressing complex issues like climate change adaptation

Provides practical examples and case studies from researchers and practitioners who have successfully implemented the Research for Impact approach in their work

Highlights the importance of engaging stakeholders and developing strategic partnerships to achieve research goals and increase impact

Covers diverse communication approaches to effectively engage with different stakeholders and deliver impactful messages

Stresses the significance of capacity development for both researchers and stakeholders to contribute effectively to the research process and achieve desired outcomes

Reviews summary

Practical research for real-world impact

According to learners, this course provides a highly relevant and practical introduction to the Research for Impact approach. Students found the core concepts, particularly the Theory of Change, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communication frameworks, to be well-explained and directly applicable to their work. Many appreciated the valuable insights and case studies shared by experienced practitioners, which helped bridge theory and practice. While the overall structure was seen as logical and easy to follow, a few reviewers mentioned wishing for more detailed guidance or hands-on tools for implementation. Nonetheless, it is widely considered an inspiring and essential course for researchers aiming to influence real-world change.

Course is well-organized.

"The course structure was logical and easy to follow."

"Modules built on each other effectively, creating a cohesive learning experience."

"I found the pacing over six weeks to be just right."

"The content was presented in a clear and understandable way."

Essential for research professionals.

"This course is essential for any researcher who wants their work to have real-world impact."

"It completely changed how I think about designing my research projects to achieve outcomes."

"I gained a much clearer understanding of how to bridge the gap between research findings and actionable change."

"Highly relevant if you are working in research and development."

Valued contributions from experts.

"The case studies shared by practitioners were very inspiring and grounded the theory."

"Hearing from researchers on the ground provided valuable real-world perspectives."

"I really appreciated the insights from the guest lecturers and contributors; they added significant value."

"It was great to learn from the experiences of those who have applied these methods."

Introduces highly relevant concepts.

"The course provides practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work."

"I found the section on Theory of Change particularly useful for planning research projects with impact."

"Learning about stakeholder engagement strategies was incredibly helpful for my current research."

"The frameworks presented give a solid structure for thinking about impact."

Could benefit from more hands-on tools.

"Some modules felt a bit superficial and could benefit from more in-depth exploration."

"I wished there were more practical examples or templates provided, especially for developing the Theory of Change."

"While the overview was good, I felt the course didn't always provide enough detail on *how* to implement certain strategies."

"Could use more 'how-to' guidance alongside the theoretical concepts."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Research for Impact with these activities:

Review Research Design and Stakeholder Analysis

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Review the fundamentals of research design and stakeholder analysis to refresh your knowledge and prepare for the course.

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Revisit principles of research design, including qualitative and quantitative methods.
Review techniques for stakeholder analysis and identifying stakeholders' interests and influence.

Explore Tools for Online Research and Collaboration

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Gain familiarity with tools that can enhance your online research and collaboration skills, which are essential for the Research for Impact approach.

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Research and try out online research tools for literature reviews, data analysis, and visualization.
Explore and experiment with collaboration tools for document sharing, video conferencing, and project management.

Develop a Research Proposal Outline

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Create an outline for a research proposal that incorporates the principles of Research for Impact, including a Theory of Change, stakeholder engagement plan, and communication strategy.

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Draft a brief overview of your research question, objectives, and expected outcomes.
Develop a Theory of Change that articulates how your research will contribute to desired change.
Outline a plan for engaging stakeholders throughout the research process.
Create a communication strategy to effectively disseminate your research findings to relevant audiences.

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Engage in Peer Review and Feedback

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Participate in peer review and feedback sessions to gain diverse perspectives and improve your research proposal and communication materials.

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Share your research proposal outline with peers for feedback.
Review and provide constructive feedback on other participants' research proposals.

Practice Communicating Research Findings Effectively

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Engage in practice exercises to develop your skills in communicating research findings effectively to diverse audiences.

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Prepare a brief presentation summarizing your research project.
Practice delivering your presentation to peers or a non-specialist audience.
Create a social media post or blog article that communicates your research findings in an accessible manner.

Read 'The Art of Change' by Daryl Conner

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Read this book to gain insights into change management and develop strategies for influencing stakeholders and achieving desired outcomes.

View Leading at the Edge of Chaos on Amazon

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Summarize the key concepts and principles of change management.
Identify the different barriers to change and develop strategies to overcome them.
Learn techniques for building support and consensus for change initiatives.

Attend a Workshop on Research Impact Assessment

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Attend a workshop to develop skills in assessing the impact of your research and evaluating its effectiveness in bringing about change.

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Learn about different methods and tools for research impact assessment.
Develop a plan for monitoring and evaluating the impact of your own research project.

Volunteer in a Community Organization Working on Social Change

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Gain practical experience in stakeholder engagement and community outreach by volunteering with an organization that is working towards social change.

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Identify a community organization that aligns with your research interests and goals.
Volunteer your time to support the organization's activities and engage with the community.

Career center

Learners who complete Research for Impact will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Researcher

This course will be very helpful for Researchers, who are responsible for conducting research and analyzing data to answer questions and solve problems. By learning about the Research for Impact approach, you can gain a deeper understanding of how to make your research more impactful, plan for impact, and engage with stakeholders in a way that leads to change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Researcher

Capacity Development Specialist

This course will be helpful for Capacity Development Specialists. The course teaches how to develop the capacities of researchers and stakeholders, which is a key part of the Research for Impact approach. It covers different types and aspects of capacity development which can help Capacity Development Specialists to build and implement capacity development initiatives.

See salaries and explore the career path for Capacity Development Specialist

Research Assistant

This course will be helpful for Research Assistants. This course teaches about the Research for Impact approach, which is a set of principles and practices that will help you to make your research more impactful, which can give you a competitive edge.

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Climate Adaptation Specialist

Climate Adaptation Specialists may find this course useful. The course provides a detailed overview of the Research for Impact approach, which is useful for Climate Adaptation Specialists who want to make their research more impactful. The course also provides practical examples of how to plan for impact, engage with stakeholders, and influence change.

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Knowledge Broker

For Knowledge Brokers, who are responsible for bridging the gap between research and practice, this course will be helpful because one of its key principles is moving from doing research ON, to doing research WITH people. It also teaches you how to use research findings to deliver impactful messages to various stakeholders, which is very important in the field of knowledge exchange.

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Technical Writer

This course will be helpful for Technical Writers, who are responsible for writing clear and concise technical documentation. Communication for impact is a key principle of this course, which teaches how to write impactful messages and develop communications strategies. This would help Technical Writers to develop skills in communicating complex technical information to diverse audiences.

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Development Research Officer

This course will be helpful for Development Research Officers, who aim to improve the lives of people in developing countries. This course's key focus on research and understanding the change process in complex systems can help Development Research Officers to make a greater impact.

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University Lecturer

This course will be helpful for University Lecturers, as it provides a detailed explanation of how to use research to influence change in policy, practice, behaviour, and attitudes. This is a valuable skill for University Lecturers, who may want to make a difference beyond academia.

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Communications Specialist

This course will be helpful for Communications Specialists, who often need to develop communications strategies and ensure impactful messaging. It does this by teaching you about developing a communications strategy, and how to use it to influence stakeholders. It also teaches how to engage with diverse groups and stakeholders in a culturally sensitive way.

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Policy Analyst

This course will be helpful for Policy Analysts, who are responsible for analyzing and interpreting policy to provide guidance for policymakers. This course can help build a foundation for understanding how to do research that influences policy, which is a highly sought-after skillset for Policy Analysts.

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Urban Planner

For Urban Planners, who are responsible for planning and designing cities, this course may be useful. It can provide helpful insights into how to use research for impact. For example, it teaches how to plan for impact and monitor and evaluate progress, which are both necessary for ensuring that urban planning projects have a positive impact on the community.

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Community Development Worker

For Community Development Workers, this course will be helpful, as it teaches about engaging with diverse groups and stakeholders in a culturally sensitive way. This is an important skill for Community Development Workers to have, as they often work with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

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Program Manager

Program Managers, who are responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating programs, may find this course helpful because it focuses on planning for impact, and understanding how change happens in complex systems.

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Sustainability Consultant

For Sustainability Consultants, who aim to help organizations reduce their environmental impact and become more sustainable, this course may be useful. The course touches upon working with issues of power and politics, and engaging with diverse groups of stakeholders. It also teaches about developing a communications strategy, which is key to communicating sustainability goals and initiatives to stakeholders.

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Research Associate

This course may be useful for Research Associates, who are often responsible for conducting research and analyzing data. The course teaches about how to use research findings to deliver impactful messages to various stakeholders and how to influence stakeholders, which are important skills for Research Associates to develop.

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