ABSTRACT Calls for science to have impact as well as excellence have been loud and clear from research funders, policymakers and research institutions for some time. Transdisciplinary research (TDR) is expected to deliver impact by connecting scientists with stakeholders and end users to co-produce knowledge to respond to complex issues. While New Zealand’s science system is geared to deliver excellence, its capability to also deliver impact beyond academic institutions is less clear. This paper has two interconnected aims. Firstly, it presents findings from testing innovations to the TDR Outcome Spaces Framework (OSF+) with four National Science Challenges (NSCs). We conclude that OSF+ is a useful tool for planning for multiple outcomes and assessing the potential for impact. Secondly, it presents findings of how using OSF+ to assess research impact potential revealed a range of implicit theories of change (i.e. catalyst, deficit, engagement and collaboration) across the NSCs. The findings raise important questions about the prospects for New Zealand’s science system to deliver the envisaged and needed levels of research impact when current institutional settings, expectations, recognition systems, career paths and measures of success are not yet able to adequately accommodate TDR to deliver the research impact.

中文翻译：

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评估研究影响潜力：在新西兰国家科学挑战中使用跨学科成果空间框架

摘要 一段时间以来，研究资助者、政策制定者和研究机构一直在呼吁科学产生影响和卓越。跨学科研究 (TDR) 有望通过将科学家与利益相关者和最终用户联系起来以共同产生知识来应对复杂问题来产生影响。虽然新西兰的科学系统旨在提供卓越，但其在学术机构之外产生影响的能力还不太清楚。本文有两个相互关联的目标。首先，它展示了从测试创新到 TDR 结果空间框架 (OSF+) 与四个国家科学挑战 (NSC) 的结果。我们得出结论，OSF+ 是规划多种结果和评估影响潜力的有用工具。第二，它展示了如何使用 OSF+ 评估研究影响潜力揭示了 NSC 中一系列隐含的变革理论（即催化剂、缺陷、参与和合作）的发现。当当前的机构设置、期望、认可系统、职业道路和成功衡量标准尚不能充分适应 TDR 以实现预期水平的研究影响时，这些发现对新西兰科学系统的前景提出了重要问题。研究影响。