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Research Visibility and Impact

This guide entails of research support services for NWU researchers

Getting started

Research impact refers to demonstrable contribution that research makes beyond academic circles, leading to meaningful changes, improvements, or benefits in areas such as society, the economy, culture, public policy, health, the environment, or overall quality of life (Informa, 2025)

Research impact is multidimensional, encompassing both academic contributions such as citations in scholarly literature and inclusion in teaching syllabi and real-world influence, including changes in policy, legal frameworks, healthcare, or public services. While some forms of impact, like social media mentions or news coverage, may appear shortly after publication, more meaningful outcomes often take years to emerge.

A helpful way to visualise this is through the ripple effect: your research sits at the centre, and its influence gradually expands outward over time. Tools like Altmetric can track broader public engagement such as online conversations, policy citations, and even patents while platforms like the Open Syllabus Project can reveal how your work is being integrated into academic teaching worldwide.

Measuring impact involves both quantitative (e.g., citation counts, media mentions) and qualitative (e.g., case studies, testimonials) forms of evidence. Researchers are encouraged to monitor, engage with, and communicate their impact strategically across different platformsTo learn more about research impact, explore the editor resources available from Informa

By increasing your online profile and engagement, you may be able to influence your success rate in the competitive research and academic environment. How to demonstrate research impact and engagement varies widely by discipline context and specific purpose (i.e. grant application or promotion application). This guide suggests making your research available to the broadest possible audience and improving your material's discoverability.

By adopting one or more of these suggestions, you will:

Build your online presence: Make it easy for researchers, students, journalists and funding bodies to find you and your publications.

Increase your research impact: Increase the chances others will read and cite your publications.

Track and measure the impact of your research: Make it easy to monitor your citation metrics and research impact.

Get the credit for your research: Ensure you get credit for all your research and publications.

Search engines with author profiles

Create search engine profiles to make it easier for yourself and others to keep track of your publications and citation metrics:

  • Google Scholar Citations

Author identifiers

Register for researcher IDs to ensure you get credit for your research, even if other researchers have similar names or if your name or affiliation changes:

  • Scopus Author Identifier (Elsevier

  • ResearcherID on Publons (Clarivate)

  • Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID)

Social networks for researchers

Join social networks to share and monitor analytics for your research publications and connect with other researchers in your field:

  • ResearchGate

  • Academia.edu

  • Social Science Research Network (SSRN

Security and confidentiality

Consider what information you should disclose

Ensure you only publish information on your research profiles that you are happy with and legally allowed to disclose to others.

See the North-West University Social Media Guidelines for more information.

Check the user agreement.

It is essential to check the user agreement for each tool you use to find out:

  •     Who will have access to your data,

  •     How long will it be retained, and

  •     How easy it is to delete an account.

Copyright

Check copyright conditions and publishing agreements.

If you have published a paper, you should check the journal publisher's policy conditions before uploading it. You can use the database SHERPA/RoMEO to find the publisher's policies.

Many publishers allow researchers free use of the 'author's original manuscript' or 'author's accepted manuscript', but it is essential to check any publishing agreement you sign.

Make sure you have the right to share materials.

You must only share material in which you own copyright or have the appropriate rights to do so.

SHERPA/RoMEO - RoMEO is a searchable database of publishers' policies regarding self-archiving journal articles online and in Open-Access repositories. 

Including SDG indicators in publications

Researchers are encouraged to include Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators in publications. Aligning research with one or more of the United Nations' 17 SDGs enhances societal relevance while strengthening visibility, global reach, and long-term impact. By clearly linking work to SDG themes such as good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, climate action, or innovation, researchers contribute to the global effort to address pressing development challenges.

Why does SDG alignment matter?

  • SDG-linked research is increasingly recognised and valued by government, funders, and policymakers
  • UNESCO supports SDG-aligned research through frameworks like the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, which encourages aligning research with sustainable development
  • The inclusion of SDG indicators in publications enhances research visibility and facilitates data retrieval by ranking agencies when assessing institutional performance in global impact rankings
  • It supports the broader mission of universities to contribute to sustainable development
  • It helps position research for future opportunities, including potential contributions to rankings (University Impact Rankings), partnerships, and interdisciplinary collaborations
  • Some South African Higher Education Institutions are actively engaged in advancing the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), contributing significantly to sustainable development efforts.

How can researchers align their publications with the SDGs?

Align the research with one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and explicitly state this alignment within the manuscript, such as in the abstract, keywords, or methodology, before submission to the publisher.

Example:

Title: Solar energy for rural access: a path to sustainable development.

Abstract: This study explores the impact of decentralised solar systems in off-grid communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Findings show improved energy access, reduced emissions, and enhanced community well-being. The research supports clean energy expansion and contributes to global sustainability efforts.

Keywords: Solar energy, rural electrification, SDG 7, SDG 11, SDG 13, energy access.

SDG Alignment: This research supports:

SDG 7: by promoting affordable, clean energy solutions

SDG 11: through inclusive infrastructure for sustainable communities

SDG 13: by reducing emissions and advancing climate action

  • Use the UN Global Indicator Framework as a guide to add more SDG-related keywords
  • Align research with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and specify this alignment within the manuscript before submission to the publisher. This includes identifying the SDGs that their research addresses directly or indirectly and providing a rationale for how their work contributes to the sustainable development objectives.