Clarivate Societal Impact Framework: A guide to responsible impact measurement

As expectations grow for research to demonstrate value beyond academia, institutions need ways to assess the societal impact of research that are robust, transparent and fit for purpose.

This third report in the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Societal Impact Framework series focuses on the responsible measurement of the societal impact of research. It explains how societal impact indicators should be interpreted, contextualized and used to support meaningful analysis and decision making.

The report outlines the structure and flexibility of the Clarivate Societal Impact Framework in Web of Science Research Intelligence, showing how structured data and transparent methods can support informed choice and interpretation of indicators across different use cases.

Explore practical guidance, illustrative examples and recommendations for the responsible interpretation and use of societal impact data in Web of Science Research Intelligence.

This report explains how the Clarivate Societal Impact Framework helps organizations:

• Use societal impact indicators with appropriate context.
• Distinguish between potential and observed impact signals.
• Avoid misleading aggregation and overinterpretation.
• Apply benchmarking and normalization appropriately.
• Build more credible narratives around the societal impact of their research.
• Align analysis with global principles of responsible research evaluation.

Who should read this report?

• Research offices and analysts
  To support impact assessment, reporting and research evaluation exercises.
• Research leaders and strategy teams
  To interpret societal impact data to inform planning and priorities.
• Users of Web of Science Research Intelligence
  To use the Societal Impact Report function, Societal Impact Profiles and indicators effectively.

Download the report to navigate the responsible assessment of the societal impact of research with confidence.