Chapter 12
Impact in Health Professions Education Research
Charlotte E. Rees,
Olivia A. King,and,
Lynn V. Monrouxe,
Charlotte E. Rees
The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorOlivia A. King,and
Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Western Alliance, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorLynn V. Monrouxe
The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorCharlotte E. Rees,
Olivia A. King,and,
Lynn V. Monrouxe,
Charlotte E. Rees
The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorOlivia A. King,and
Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Western Alliance, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorLynn V. Monrouxe
The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorBook Editor(s):Charlotte Rees,
Lynn Monrouxe,
Bridget O'Brien,
Lisi Gordon, Claire Palermo,
Charlotte Rees
The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorLynn Monrouxe
The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorBridget O'Brien
University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
Search for more papers by this authorFirst published: 07 August 2023
Summary
This chapter summarises different understandings of research impact and explains the philosophical underpinnings of different approaches to research impact. It describes research impact pathways within health professions education research (HPER). The chapter evaluates key enablers and barriers of HPER impact and outlines the different ways of assessing HPER impact. It establishes the strategies to plan for and enhances impact from HPER. The chapter discusses the research impact experiences drawing on three illustrative cases: a research programme on healthcare professionalism, a research project on dignity during work-integrated learning and a research programme setting priorities for HPER. Realist research unpacks mechanisms that generate outcomes, and the contexts triggering those mechanisms; so-called context–mechanism–outcome configurations. Interpretivist approach explores the unpredictability of research impacts, with interpretivist impact studies focusing on social interaction. There are different philosophical approaches to impact, meaning that different ways of understanding and assessing impact exist.
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