PaFo investigates whether and how participation changes research - epistemically, politically, socially, discursively and reflexively. We do not record impressions or moods, but comprehensible changes in research processes and organizations. Impact is not a presupposed result of participation. It only becomes visible when participation actually has an impact on research - and this is precisely where PaFo's impact measurement comes in.
What impact means
Impact means a change within a scientific process or an organization - regardless of whether a dialogue has gone "well" or not. PaFo therefore investigates whether participation makes a difference at all:
- Do new questions arise?
- Do priorities shift?
- Are new collaborations formed?
- Are decisions made differently?
Impact measurement shows which changes are comprehensible - and where participation remains inconsequential.
Citizen dialogs as a resource for strategic research decisions.
The matrix as a tool
It serves to:
- Distinguish between impact dimensions
- make interactions visible
- record planned and unplanned effects
- not only to count impact, but to understand it
The matrix thus lays the foundation for impact research that makes complex changes comprehensible - without simplifying or standardizing them.
Do not claim impact, but test it analytically.
Epistemic
New insights, alternative questions, methodological developments.
Political
Changed frameworks, prioritization of topics or strategic decisions.
Social
New networks, cooperations or relationships of trust.
Discursive
Changed narratives, interpretations or problem interpretations.
Reflexive
Questioning roles, methods, self-conceptions.
Understanding impact
Impact is rarely linear. Decisive effects are often delayed - through further discussions, new partnerships or unexpected irritations. The PaFo matrix helps to make such developments visible and to describe how participation can strengthen, challenge or realign research - and where no impact is created.
