Introducing PROSPECT: a novel process for prospectively tracking research engagement

Health researchers are increasingly encouraged to engage with nonacademic stakeholders and provide evidence of their engagement. However, evidencing research engagement and advancing the evidence base is challenging, partly because of the lack of available tools to prospectively track research engagement activities. To fill this gap, this Commentary introduces PROcess for Systematic Prospective Engagement Capture and Tracking (PROSPECT), a novel process based on event logging that offers a systematic way to track and measure research engagement activities. The development of PROSPECT was informed by a literature search, a series of reflective practice sessions and application to one of our research programs. PROSPECT includes five phases: (1) determine the purpose, (2) define research engagement and categories of research engagement, (3) determine the information to be recorded for each research engagement activity, (4) determine the data collection system and (5) analyse, present and report. We provide examples of how we are applying each phase. We have used the data collected through PROSPECT in funder reports to describe our engagement activities and to gain insights into patterns of engagement throughout our research program. Whilst PROSPECT offers a promising approach to capturing research engagement data, we have encountered a range of practical, conceptual and technical challenges in applying this process. We suggest some next steps in its development to address these challenges. Once the challenges of applying the process are addressed, PROSPECT will be a valuable tool for researchers, leaders of research institutions and funders.