Impact Summary

An Impact Summary is a concise, accessible narrative that accompanies a published article and communicates why the research matters, who benefits, what change has been achieved, and how the work advances knowledge, practice, policy or society.

Because publishing research is only part of the story. At Global Journals® we believe in sharing impact: enabling authors, institutions, funders and the public to see how research leads to outcomes, not just outputs. This strengthens accountability, visibility and the global reach of our publishing community.

Typically:
The author provides input by highlighting the key outcomes, beneficiaries, geographic reach and measurable results of their work.

The journal editorial/communications team works with the author to craft a clear, non-technical summary (written for broad audiences) and ensures consistency with our ethical and editorial standards.

Together we refine it to ensure accuracy, accessibility and impact-oriented language.

Here are some pointers:
Use plain language - avoid heavy jargon, write for non-specialist readers.

Clearly answer “Who cares?” and “So what?” - why is this research significant?

Focus on outcomes and benefits, changes in practice, policy, society, economy or environment, not just “we found X”.

Include quantitative and qualitative data if available (e.g., number of people reached, citation counts, partner institutions, real-world applications).

Provide context - what was the problem, how did the research address it, and what happened as a result.

At Global Journals®, an Impact Summary is developed after a paper has been peer-reviewed and accepted for publication. At that stage we ask authors to provide relevant information (outcomes, reach, next steps). Then the editorial/communications team finalises the summary alongside publication.

Impact Summaries are openly available on our website (within the Communication to Impact Summary section) and link directly to the article. They are designed for broad dissemination: researchers, institutions, funders, media, and the general public can access them. This helps research reach beyond the academic community.

The summary complements quantitative metrics (citations, downloads, altmetrics) by adding narrative context: it explains why those numbers matter, who benefitted, and how change occurred. While metrics are useful, they alone don’t capture full real-world influence.

Yes, the Impact Summary is expressly designed to help communicate research to broader audiences, including funders, institutional stakeholders, media and public outreach. It can be used as a foundation for press releases, institutional communications, social media posts, and annual impact reports.

Authors are encouraged to:
Monitor how their work is being used (citations, collaborations, policy uptake, media mentions).

Update the journal communications team if significant new outcomes occur (for example: adoption of findings into policy, technology deployment, media feature).

Engage in outreach: share the summary, present the work to non-academic audiences, collaborate with stakeholders.

No. At Global Journals® the preparation of the Impact Summary is included in the publishing process, there is no separate fee. It is part of our commitment to enhance visibility, accountability and global impact of research.

Not all research will immediately show measurable outcomes, and that’s fine. In such cases, the summary can focus on: the potential impact (what change is anticipated), early indicators of influence, next steps planned, and why the work matters in its research or application context. Over time, as outcomes mature, the summary may be revisited or supplemented.

Initially the summary is published with the article. If significant new outcomes emerge (e.g., policy adoption, commercialisation, new global partnerships), the author may notify our communications team to publish an updated or “follow-up” impact note. The frequency of updates depends on evidence and relevance.