Over the past decade, as a researcher, academic, and keynote speaker at various international seminars, conferences, and workshops, I have frequently engaged in discussions with lecturers and researchers from different countries. From these question-and-answer sessions, I have observed a recurring concern: research is often judged by where an article is published rather than by what changes after the research has been conducted.
The publication of scholarly articles is, of course, important. However, good research should not end with publication. It should generate meaningful impact, both within the academic community and in society. From this perspective, research impact can be understood in at least three forms: academic impact, practical impact, and visibility impact.
First, there is academic impact. This is primarily reflected in the publication of research findings in reputable scholarly journals. In Indonesia, publications indexed by Scopus have become an important indicator of research performance for universities and academics. Citation counts are also used to assess the extent to which scholarly work is referenced and used by other researchers.
This scholarly tradition has a strong foundation. Robert K. Merton, for example, viewed science as a social activity that develops through openness, communication, and the use of knowledge within the scientific community. Publications and citations therefore remain important. However, they should not become the ultimate objectives of research.
The second is practical impact. This is where research findings should move beyond the pages of academic journals and enter real life. Research can provide a foundation for better public policies, help organizations make informed decisions, or generate innovations that address societal problems.
In higher education, practical impact is particularly relevant. Research conducted by university lecturers should find its way back into the classroom through more effective and innovative teaching strategies. Research on artificial intelligence, for example, should not merely produce an article about AI. Its findings should be translated into teaching methods, learning materials, or academic policies that genuinely improve the quality of education.
This perspective is consistent with John Dewey’s view that knowledge cannot be separated from experience and the solution of real-life problems. Similarly, the work of Michael Gibbons and his colleagues on Mode 2 knowledge production emphasizes the importance of producing knowledge in the context of application and societal needs.
The third is visibility impact. High-quality research needs to be communicated to the public and professional communities. Researchers cannot simply write their papers and wait for them to be discovered. International collaboration, seminars, conferences, workshops, and various platforms for scholarly communication can expand the reach of research findings.
When research is communicated effectively, researchers can become recognized for their expertise. More broadly, such recognition can also strengthen the reputation of their universities. Universities and their researchers can become points of reference when society seeks knowledge or solutions to particular problems.
The problem is that our attention appears to remain heavily concentrated on academic impact. Publications and citations have become the primary measures, while questions about how research findings are actually used often remain secondary.
Research orientation therefore needs to be broadened. Scopus and citations are important, but research should not stop at Scopus and citations. From the outset, every research project should raise several further questions: Who will use the findings? What problems can they help solve? And what changes are expected to occur?
The solution is not to abandon scholarly publication, but to connect these three forms of impact. Research should be published to appropriate scholarly standards, translated into practice or policy, and then communicated through academic networks and to the wider public.
When academic impact works together with practical impact and visibility impact, research does more than add to a university’s list of publications. It can improve teaching and learning, inform policy, strengthen academic reputation, and ultimately make a tangible contribution to social progress and public well-being. Research that truly makes an impact is not simply research that is read by other researchers. It is research that contributes to making people’s lives better.
Dr. Djuwari is President of the International Association of Scholarly Publishers, Editors, and Reviewers (IASPER), based in Cagayan de Oro City, the Philippines. He frequently serves as a keynote speaker and provides training in scholarly writing and foreign-language teaching strategies in various countries.
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