In academic writing, "impact" and "effect" are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings and contexts. Understanding the difference between these terms can help you use them appropriately in your writing. Here's a breakdown of their differences:

1. Impact:

• "Impact" refers to the influence, change, or consequences resulting from an action, event, policy, or research. It focuses on the broader and often long-term effects that an action or event has on a particular situation, system, community, or field of study.
• When discussing "impact" in academic writing, you are highlighting the significance and consequences of a particular study, policy, or action on a larger scale. It involves examining the reach and significance of the subject matter beyond immediate outcomes.
• "Impact" is often used in the context of research papers, case studies, and policy analyses, where authors discuss the broader implications of their findings or interventions.

Example (Academic Writing):"The research study had a significant impact on the field of medicine, leading to changes in clinical practice and improved patient outcomes."

2. Effect:

• "Effect" refers to the immediate or direct result or outcome of an action, event, or phenomenon. It focuses on the specific consequences or changes that occur as a direct consequence of a particular action or event.
• When discussing "effect" in academic writing, you are describing the direct outcomes or changes observed as a result of a specific action, intervention, or event. The emphasis is on the immediate consequences rather than the broader, long-term implications.
• "Effect" is often used when reporting the findings of an experiment, describing the outcomes of a policy implementation, or discussing the short-term consequences of an event.

Example (Academic Writing):"The introduction of the new teaching method had a positive effect on students' engagement and learning outcomes in the short term."

In summary, "impact" refers to the broader and long-term consequences or influence of an action or event, while "effect" refers to the immediate or direct outcomes or changes resulting from that action or event.

The word impact is used in the sense of 'influence' and it has a positive meaning. On the other hand, the word 'effect' is used in the sense of 'result'.

Education requires special qualifications that are not available to everyone

The historical overview at https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/195415/different-between-effect-and-impact

is rather useful. The distinction is not in terms of positive and negative effects.

When you say "impact" it has negative results while "effect" has positive outcomes.

Impact is used more appropriately in correlational research while effect is used more appropriately in experimental/quasi-experimental research.

Jocelyn Fernandez, interesting, can you share any reading that expands on your answer please?