Getting research into action: issues, challenges, solutions by Dr Sarah Morton

1. Research, Impact, Value & LIS - #lisrival - Edinburgh - 11th July 2019 Practitioner research: value, impact, and priorities Professor Hazel Hall Edinburgh Napier University RIVAL Network Event 1 – July 11th 2019 – Edinburgh Getting research into action: issues, challenges, solutions Dr Sarah Morton, Matter of Focus

3. A vision for knowledge to action… © 2018 Matter of Focus® Research findings always linked with relevant people, policy and practice Open discussion and debate informed by latest evidence Practitioners and policy-makers have the data and evidence then need at their fingertips

4. Research impact: where are we now? • Many research organisations with an impact imperative (in and out of HE sector) • Increasing use of outcomes (SDG’s Government performance systems) • REF in UK and EIF in Australia • Shift towards impact: • Impact prizes (ESRC, NCCPE, etc..) • Researchers blogging, tweeting etc.. • Funding: e.g.: ESRC impact accelerator account • Core competency of research staff

5. Universities: Impact through the research cycle 1.Potential/future impact (Pathways to Impact ) 2. Maximising impact of current research (Knowledge Exchange) 3. Reporting on impact of previous research (REF Impact) Developing impact case studies for the REF www.publicengagement.ac.uk

8. City Council of The Hague deliberating in 1636 Jan Antonisz. van Ravesteyn

9. Carol Weiss (1979) Research used in policy… Problem solving: evidence to solve policy problems (rarely) Knowledge-Driven: drives new technological developments Interactive: interactive, communicative Political: lobby for political viewpoints Tactical: to delay action, deflect criticism, etc Enlightenment: slowly changes conceptualisation of problems and solutions

10. Practitioners’ ‘mindlines’ Adapted from Gabbay J, and May A l BMJ 2004;329:1013 each other practice experience Client’s view “reps” “the centre” eg govt department opinion leaders teachers/training “they say” reading/updates infrastructure meetings And in practice

13. What does it mean to use research? Research uptake: people are interested in research, read it, talk about it, come to a presentation etc.. Research use: people do something with the research, change their view, pass it on to someone else, apply it to practice or policy Research impact: a contribution to change as a result of research use Morton (2015)

14. Hi! Have you heard this? It’s really going to change how you do things round here. 1. Research does not speak for itself

15. Animating research

16. 2. Research does not stand alone

17. Contextual analysis

18. 3. Research has to be integrated

19. Integrating new knowledge through discussion

20. Combining different types of knowledge What should we do?

21. 4. It’s not just learning – unlearning matters too

22. 5. Using research is often not an event

23. Work with ChildLine

24. 6. Knowledge is often co- produced

25. 7. Not products but process

26. Products + processes • KE strategy for every project • Involving research users from the start • More than one mechanism for dissemination

27. 8. It’s not all about decisions but often more about framings

28. 9. Leadership support for research creation and use

29. 10. Investment- skin in the game

30. Barriers and facilitators to research use Over to you! Discussion.

31. What hinders research use? Source: Carnegie UK, Evidence Exchange: learning from social policy across the UK

32. Top 5 barriers Oliver K, et al (2014).

33. Top 5 facilitators Oliver K, et al (2014).

34. • Established relationships and networks with user communities • Involving users at all stages with research • Well-planned user-engagement and KTE strategies • Portfolios of research activity that build reputations with research users • Good infrastructure and management support • The involvement of intermediaries and knowledge brokers as translators, amplifiers, network providers *Summary of findings from the UK ESRC’s impact assessment activities The most important drivers of impact are:

35. Research utilisation: what have we learned since 2001? Research use is: • a process, not a product • complex, context specific • translation, relationships, and systems matter • often long time frames • many kinds of evidence.. research just one

36. Three generations framework system relationships translation Targeted and packaged for key audiences Build and take part in relevant networks, identify champions Consider contextual factors, barriers, opportunities and enablers of change

38. Start with an impact vision (or pathway) © 2018 Matter of Focus® Helps to focus on potential impact Provides a way of planning for impact Communicates about what matters to the project or initiative Provides a structure for thinking and learning about impact Is a framework for evaluating impact

39. What difference will it make? Understanding change What do we want to change and Who can make that happen? We make this happen if we have the right resources and activities We need people to respond well and have the ability to change to make this happen We need other policies and ways of doing things to be helping and things beyond our control might stop this happening Sphere of indirect influence Sphere of direct influence Sphere of direct control What does the project do? People we have indirectly influenced do things differently People or groups we directly influence Here we control what happens WHY WHAT / WHO HOW

40. Pathways to impact are best when • Focus on the outcomes and impacts that matter • Have an understanding of different levels of impacts • Include a theory or model of impact (how we believe impact will happen) • Have taken account of the context in which any work sits • Have buy-in from key stakeholders • Are used as working documents © 2018 Matter of Focus®

42. Mapping a pathway to impact © 2018 Matter of Focus® What they do differently What we do Who with How they feel What they learn and gain What difference does this make? Here explain the key activities Explain who is involved How they react to the activities, what helps them engage positively? What knowledge, skills or attitudes change? What behaviours, policies or practices change? What is better for people or communities?

44. A bespoke patchwork of data, feedback and evidence © 2018 Matter of Focus® Website visits/downloads Social media Feedback about experiences of events/programme Notes from staff meetings about key risks/assumptions Reflective logs Focus groups On-line surveys Press/media coverage Behavior change measures Creative feedback Videos/photos Policy analysis

45. At Matter of Focus © 2018 Matter of Focus® Have a software tool OutNav to help organisations set out, navigate, collate evidence, understand and report on change. Work closely with organisations to help them get the evidence they need

47. 10/07/2019©2018 www.matter-of-focus.com @matter_of_focus Thank you! Let’s keep the conversation going: Website: www.matter-of-focus.com Twitter: @matter_of_focus LinkedIn: …/company/matter-of-focus