The Handbook of Research Impact Assessment. Edition 7. Summer 1997

This is a OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH ARLINGTON VA report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A120692. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: This handbook describes the practice of Federal research impact assessment. Evaluation of research impact is described for three cases: research selection, where the work has not yet been performed ; research review, where work and results are ongoing; and ex-post research assessment, where research has been completed and results can be tracked. Retrospective methods (such as projects hindsight and traces), qualitative methods (such as peer review), and quantitative methods (such as cost-benefit analysis and bibliometrics) are described. While peer review in its broadest sense is the most widely used method in research selection, review, and ex-post assessment, it has its deficiencies, and there is not single method which provides a complete impact evaluation. (AN)