Empirically assessing impact of scholarly research

The impact of scholarly research can be manifested in many different ways, but conventional citation measures are often used to evaluate research impact without distinction. This paper attempts to analyze the misconception about what research impact is and what exactly citation data measures or cannot measure for impact. The author proposes a framework of impact assessment, in which research output makes intellectual, technological, and societal impact through knowledge diffusion. The extent of knowledge diffusion, adoption of technology and practices, and benefits from adoption constitute the overall impact of research. Although still in its preliminary form, the framework offers a more holistic view on the composite of research impact