Social Impact Measurement: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Directions

Abstract

This paper explores the current state of the social impact measurement (SIM) field to better understand common practices in measuring the post-intervention social impact of a program or project and to identify strategies to improve measurement in practice. This study employed a systematic literature review. Articles were manually coded deductively and inductively in NVivo to complete a descriptive and thematic analysis of the literature. The thematic analysis provided an in-depth understanding of the SIM field. We found that similarities existed across the definitions of social impact (e.g., environmental impact is part of social impact). Additionally, social return on investment (SROI) is the most common measurement model and theory of change was identified as a core concept across SIM literature. Strategies are presented for practitioners to consider when measuring social impact, including: (i) engage stakeholders throughout the process, (ii) mobilize existing operational data, (iii) increase measurement capacity, and (iv) use both qualitative and quantitative data. This study reveals the nuances of SIM based on academic literature published across the globe over the span of a decade. It places emphasis on the post-intervention stage and identifies strategies to improve the application of measurement models in practice. Lastly, it outlines future research directions.

Developing and Validating Sustainability Indicators for Measuring Social Impact of University–Community Engagement Programs

“…The common themes and explanations for the variations in SIM indicators in the literature were divided into two groups [25]. First, there were internal differences, such as the goal of continuing university performance.…”

“…The SDGs include a valuable set of common indicators that researchers can use to develop customized SIM indicators [46]. The SDG indicators offer compatibility and a standardized approach while allowing researchers to measure in a way that is tailored to their specific requirements [25]. Aiello et al [47] noted that the SDGs are a vital reference point for measuring the social impact of research at the international level.…”

“…Although these studies significantly increase our understanding of community engagement carried out by universities in the interest of SD, more research is needed about the measurement indicators to understand the post-intervention impacts of university initiatives on community engagement toward SD [25]. Goyal et al [1] emphasize the research gap in measuring the impact of universities on SD.…”