Measuring Science Impact

Have you ever wondered what kind of impact CDC science has? Did you ever want to know if your published research is likely to have impact on a significant health outcome? Traditional citation data and journal metrics help us understand how widely the research is disseminated. But then what? How can these research findings be used towards significant improvements in public health practice or policy?

To help answer these questions, and trace and link scientific enterprise to significant outcomes, CDC has developed the Science Impact Framework. The Framework utilizes a combination of quantitative and qualitative indicators to measure impact towards health outcomes, through five levels of influence: disseminating science, creating awareness, catalyzing action, effecting change, and shaping the future. The complex dynamics between the levels of influence and the intricate environment in which influence materializes create a path of impact which does not necessarily follow a linear progression.

This special edition of Grand Rounds examines the CDC Science Impact Framework and opportunities and challenges associated with implementing it across the diverse areas of public health.