Beyond the Numbers: Leveraging Data to Contextualize Research Performance and Peer Comparisons

Accurately reporting and contextualizing research data within academic institutions remains a significant challenge. While internal metrics, such as total grants awarded and research expenditures, provide valuable insights, these numbers often lack the context necessary to fully inform strategic decision-making. A critical follow-up question is: how do these numbers compare to our peers? To address this, various external data sources, such as the HERD survey, NIH RePORTER, and AUTM licensing data, can be leveraged to better understand institutional positioning within the broader academic landscape. This presentation highlights how the Office of Research at the University of Pittsburgh has utilized these data sources to analyze peer performance across different research fields, address changes in institutional rankings, and develop strategies for effectively presenting findings to diverse audiences. By combining internal and external data, we demonstrate a more comprehensive approach to institutional benchmarking and storytelling, offering insightful information for administrators and stakeholders in higher education.