The social impact assessment in social sciences and humanities: methodological issues from the Italian experience

In the knowledge economy the evaluation of research institutions is an important element, in particular with respect to universities. Recently attention has been focused not only on the quality of research outputs (i.e. publications) but also on its external impact, i.e., the overall interaction between university and society. While the notion of impact is accepted and recognised in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines, it is a source of much controversy in Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). Literature about research impact has often focused on technology transfer processes, marginalising social impact in favour of a strictly economic one. Therefore, this situation has probably distanced SSH from a serious reflection on these topics and on their role in so-called third mission of the university. Moving from the current Italian experience of third mission assessment, the chapter surveys these developments and offers a number of suggestions for an assessment of SSH associated with a higher level of awareness of their impact within the policies of universities’ performances assessment. The comparison with the British assessment exercise of Research Excellence Framework could offer a significant source of reflection regarding choices associated with an evaluation process.