In today’s educational landscape, the pressure to ensure that every investment yields positive outcomes is higher than ever. The primary goal of any school is to enhance student learning and achievement, but schools are often operating with tight budgets. Therefore, when it comes to purchasing educational resources, the need for evidence of impact is crucial to ensure that limited funds are used effectively.
“Evidence is used to support budget approvals and ensure that new investments will be effective, contributing to improved student outcomes and the overall learning experience at the school.” (Contributor on the OUP UK and International Educational Research Forum)
In September 2024, for the third consecutive year, Oxford University Press (OUP), undertook research through its UK and International Educational Research Forum to better understand how important it is for schools to have evidence of impact when purchasing an educational resource (print or digital).
The findings were clear: educators overwhelmingly value evidence of impact, with 88% of educators in one of the polls saying that having such evidence is important. This research highlights the critical role that evidence plays in the decision-making process when investing in educational resources.
Meeting the Needs of Senior Management
Out of 352 survey respondents, 64% said their senior management needs evidence of impact to justify expenditure and allocate resources effectively. This trend is growing as schools focus more on accountability and data-driven decisions.
“The evidence of impact is important and needs to be in place. Evidence of impact is essential when trying to get funding and budget approval from SLT.” (Contributor on the OUP UK and International Educational Research Forum)
Empowering Educators
Evidence of impact is not only crucial for senior management but was also shown to be needed by educators themselves (43%) and heads of department (37%). This is so that they can make informed decisions about the tools and resources they use, ensuring they are going to be effective and beneficial for their students in order to maximize educational outcomes.
Determining Value for Money
Educators said that they need the evidence to ensure resources are value for money (45%), to compare different products (39%), and to assess how well they deliver against specific outcomes (37%), ensuring that resources are both cost-effective and impactful.
“With the current financial strain on schools, it’s absolutely vital to have clear evidence before any spending occurs.” (Contributor on the OUP UK and International Educational Research Forum)
Sources of Evidence
The survey showed that educators primarily seek evidence of impact from other schools (59%), third-party research groups (46%), experts and key influencers (44%), and publishers or suppliers (35%). These sources provide diverse perspectives to make well-rounded decisions.
49% of educators said that efficacy or impact studies were the most credible forms of evidence, which is a significant increase from last year and shows how important it is to have credible and unbiased information. Case studies (30%) and reviews (28%) also play important roles. This preference for rigorous, data-driven studies indicates that educators want more reliable methods of evaluation.
“Evidence of impact is essential in making decisions about purchasing educational resources. Our school looks for reliable data, such as research findings that show the impact of materials on improving student achievement. Case studies from other schools are vital, providing a deeper understanding of how materials are being applied in different learning environments.” (IB Coordinator, USA)
Conclusion
With 91% of educators in the survey saying that evidence of impact is influential when purchasing educational resources, it highlights the critical role that credible impact data plays in making smart, accountable, and cost-effective decisions that could enhance teaching and learning experiences and ultimately improve learning outcomes for all.
This infographic and summary report share some key findings from this year’s Evidence of Impact research from OUP.
Oxford Impact
Oxford Impact is OUP’s approach to evaluating the impact of our educational products and services. At the heart of Oxford Impact is the Oxford Impact Framework: a rigorous process for evaluating impact developed with the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), and supported by the Department of Education, University of Oxford.
To find out more visit www.oup.com/oxfordimpact
