joining it all up: developing research-practice linkages in the uk

Joining it all up: developing research-practice linkages in the UK

Presentation to the School of Business and Economics, Åbo Akademi University, Finland

Thursday 13th March 2014

Professor Hazel Hall

www.napier.ac.uk/iidi

Welcome to today’s presentation


@hazelh

http://hazelhall.org

http://about.me/hazelh

[email protected]

0131 455 2760

http://hazelhall.org/

http://about.me/hazelh

mailto:[email protected]


Work of the Centre for Social Informatics

CPD

Knowledge management

Library and Information Science, e.g. research resources for LIS

Social media strategies with focus on knowledge management, risk management and engagement strategies

…

Research – research councils, EuropeE-participationE-governanceInformation SocietyLibrary and Information Science, e.g. AHRCSmart cities…

Research: contract, consultancy, “other” Knowledge managementLibrary and Information Science e.g. CILIPMarket researchOnline communitiesProject managementSocial computingSociotechnical project evaluation…

One of five research centre within IIDI

Distributed Computing, Networking & Security

Emergent Computing

Information & Software Systems

Interaction Design

Social Informatics: exploring human-technology relationships in context, and their impact, e.g. on organisations, communities


Two eras

National projects: 2009-2012

Library and Information Science Research CoalitionDeveloping Research Excellence and Methods (DREaM)Research in Librarianship Impact Evaluation Study (RiLIES)

“Impact”: 2012 onwards

Professional bodiesPractitioner groupsResearcher groups


To facilitate a co-ordinated and strategic approach to LIS research across the UK (2009-2012)

To explore the extent to which LIS research projects influence practice (2011)

To create outputs to support the use and execution of research by librarians and information scientists (2012)

To develop a UK-wide network of LIS researchers (2011-2012)


http://lisresearch.org

http://lisresearch.org/dream http://lisresearch.org/rilies

http://lisresearch.org/

http://lisresearch.org/dream

http://lisresearch.org/rilies


Resources still useful and

well-used


Previous work

New workCollect data

Establish an understanding of the research context

Identify an opportunity to make a contribution

Determine a research approach

Analyse data

Relate findings to research context

Published research adds to research

context

Need for an appreciation of: range of available methods/tools; dissemination channels; means of ensuring that research output has impact, e.g. for policy development.

Need for an appreciation of what has already been done in the domain in order to identify (1) appropriate research aims and questions and (2) methods to be deployed.

Published research directs future effort


Previous work

New workCollect data

Establish an understanding of the research context

Identify an opportunity to make a contribution

Determine a research approach

Analyse data

Relate findings to research context

Published research adds to research

contextNeed for an appreciation of research methods in order to evaluate findings reported in the literature.

Need for an appreciation of what has already been done in the domain in order to identify possible practice.

Published research directs future effort

As consumers of

research, practitioners

need an awareness of

research processes


Importance of research-led practice

To exploit existing knowledge base for services (outcomes) improvement improve decision making for services delivery

To enhance the value of prior work

• to capitalise on significant investment in previous studies• to raise the value of previous studies through reuse

To demonstrate the value and impact of service delivery


… reduced anti-social behaviour

…contributed to improvements in pupils’ exam results

…attracted international student fee income

… raised research assessment ratings

… increased literacy levels


Barriers to research-led practice: “evaluation by-pass” (Booth, 2006)

Valuable research work is often not published at all

Multidisciplinary nature of the LIS literature, across publications of various domains, makes it difficult to access

Much valuable research is held in grey sources: straightforward access not always obvious, e.g. unpublished internal studies, summaries on listservs

There is a preference amongst practitioners for face-to-face dissemination channels - tailored, lowered incidence of information overload, addresses issues of fragmented infrastructures – but opportunities to attend professional events are few

Some practitioners suffer restricted access to social media channels – valued for immediacy, updates on on-going projects

Booth, A. (2006). Clear and present questions: formulating questions for evidence based practice. Library Hi Tech, 24(3), 355-368.


And lack of practitioner-led research (as opposed to research-led practice)?

Irony of librarians helping others identify evidence to support their practice, but less likely to do for themselves

Few LIS practitioners publish research in international peer-reviewed journals – except North American librarians seeking tenure


Time constraints of the practitioner role

Limited knowledge of research approaches

Low internal support of research activity

Poor access to external support of research activity, e.g. funding, mentors

Failure to recognise research of others and own research activity/skills as such

Mind the gap (26 November 2006) by Luigi Rosa. Available from http://www.flickr.com/photos/30571787@N00/307814064, accessed 5 March 2014

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30571787@N00/307814064


To facilitate a co-ordinated and strategic approach to LIS research across the UK

Bring together information about LIS research opportunities and results

Encourage dialogue between research funders

Promote LIS practitioner research and the translation of research outcomes into practice

Articulate a strategic approach to LIS research

Promote the development of research capacity in LIS

http://www.mla.gov.uk/


To develop a UK-wide network of LIS researchers (2011-2012)

Funding to develop a UK-wide network of LIS researchers

Build research capacity and capabilityRaise quality and standards: research training,

practice, output, value, impact, and influenceSecure foundation for long-term research

collaborations – in LIS and beyond


Launch conference

British Library Conference Centre, July 19th 201187 participantsProgramme included:

2 keynotes12 one minute madness presentations4 breakout sessionsPlenaryNetworking

Excellent feedback

http://lisresearch.org/dream-project/dream-event-1-launch-conference-tuesday-19-july-2011/


Three linked workshops

Edinburgh Napier University & British Library25th October 2011, January 30th 2012, & 25th April

201230 workshop cadre members attended all three12 formal sessions:

broad research approachesqualitative and quantitative techniquesresearch practicalities

“Unconference half hour” and networkingExcellent feedback

http://lisresearch.org/dream-project/dream-workshops/

http://lisresearch.org/dream-project/dream-workshops/


Concluding conference

British Library Conference Centre, July 9th 201293 participantsProgramme included:

2 keynotes20 one minute madness presentationsInvited paperPanel sessionAward presentationNetworking

Excellent feedback

http://lisresearch.org/dream-project/dream-event-5-conference-monday-9-july-2012/


Project infrastructure: technical and social

Project web page http://lisresearch.org/dream-projectAll events previewed, amplified live, reviewed and archived

online (slides, recordings, and summaries)Online community site: http://lis-dream.spruz.com/ Linked Lanyrds: http://lanyrd.com/profile/lis_dream/ Twitter account: @LIS_DREaMTwitter DREaM participant list:

https://twitter.com/#!/LIS_DREaM/dream-participants

http://lisresearch.org/dream-project

http://lis-dream.spruz.com/

http://lanyrd.com/profile/lis_dream/

https://twitter.com/


Professional event amplification


Event reviews by delegates


The DREaM online community


The Twitter feed


The Twitter list


Participation and reach in numbers

5 eventsled by 33 ‘official’ contributorsfor 213 on-site delegate participantsfrom 12 countries (and 4 continents)

not counting ‘remote’ audience of ~80 blog posts, ~1000+ tweets, multiple web pages, SlideShares, Vimeos, SoundClouds etc.


Brettle, A., Hall, H., & Oppenheim, C. (2012).We have a DREaM: the Developing Research Excellence and Methods network. Paper presented at the 4th International Conference on Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries, Limerick, Ireland, 22-25 May 2012.

1. Did we increase research capability and capacity?

2. Did we raise standards?3. Did we create a foundation for future

research collaborations?

http://www.slideshare.net/LISResearch/we-have-a-dream-the-developing-research-excellence-methods-network

http://www.slideshare.net/LISResearch/we-have-a-dream-the-developing-research-excellence-methods-network


Never heard of this

Heard but unfamiliar

In theory Applied in practice

Expert

Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post Pre Post

Ethnography 2 0 9 1 8 23 3 1 0 0

Social network analysis 3 0 10 0 8 23 1 2 0 0

Discourse analysis 2 0 12 1 6 19 2 4 0 0

Ethics & legal issues 0 0 3 0 6 10 12 12 2 3

Action research 4 0 4 1 8 18 6 6 0 1

Research techniques from history 5 0 9 0 4 20 3 5 0 0

Web metrics 3 0 10 0 5 23 4 2 0 0

Tying research output to policy 0 0 8 0 5 14 8 8 1 3

Horizon scanning 4 0 7 1 7 17 4 5 0 0

Repertory grids 17 0 5 2 0 22 0 1 0 0

Data mining 0 0 11 2 10 21 1 1 0 0

Increasing research impact 0 0 5 0 8 13 8 10 1 2

TOTALS 40 0 93 8 67 223 52 57 4 9

Research skills audits conducted in workshops 1 and 3


Never heard of this



Expert


Ethnography 2 0 9 1 8 23 3 1 0 0




Action research 4 0 4 1 8 18 6 6 0 1


Web metrics 3 0 10 0 5 23 4 2 0 0



Repertory grids 17 0 5 2 0 22 0 1 0 0

Data mining 0 0 11 2 10 21 1 1 0 0


TOTALS 40 0 93 8 67 223 52 57 4 9

Increased familiarity with workshop themes


Never heard of this



Expert


Ethnography 2 0 9 1 8 23 3 1 0 0




Action research 4 0 4 1 8 18 6 6 0 1


Web metrics 3 0 10 0 5 23 4 2 0 0



Repertory grids 17 0 5 2 0 22 0 1 0 0

Data mining 0 0 11 2 10 21 1 1 0 0


TOTALS 40 0 93 8 67 223 52 57 4 9

Overall growth in theoretical knowledge


Never heard of this



Expert


Ethnography 2 0 9 1 8 23 3 1 0 0




Action research 4 0 4 1 8 18 6 6 0 1


Web metrics 3 0 10 0 5 23 4 2 0 0



Repertory grids 17 0 5 2 0 22 0 1 0 0

Data mining 0 0 11 2 10 21 1 1 0 0


TOTALS 40 0 93 8 67 223 52 57 4 9

Small increase of application in practice


Never heard of this



Expert


Ethnography 2 0 9 1 8 23 3 1 0 0




Action research 4 0 4 1 8 18 6 6 0 1


Web metrics 3 0 10 0 5 23 4 2 0 0



Repertory grids 17 0 5 2 0 22 0 1 0 0

Data mining 0 0 11 2 10 21 1 1 0 0


TOTALS 40 0 93 8 67 223 52 57 4 9

Increase in number of cadre member experts


Critical incident technique - cadre reported

Increased research capacity and capabilityGrowth in knowledge and research confidence

Raised standardsImpact and influence – demonstrating research knowledge in the

workplaceQuality of training – new resources to shareResearch practice – methodological choice

Foundations for future collaborationsWidened networks and research relationships


To explore the extent to which LIS research projects influence practice (2011)

To create outputs to support the use and execution of research by librarians and information scientists (2012)


Addressing the issues: project conception

Researchers should involve practitioners in research design

Funders should support research that is relevant to the needs of the practitioner community and – allied to this – an explicit goal of research should be to influence practice

Research undertaken should have high level support: steering committees, influential stakeholders


Addressing the issues: project execution

Practitioners should be invited to participate in the research from the outset, e.g. capacity building workshops as hook

Information about the project should be disseminated throughout its duration (and not just at the end)


Addressing the issues: project reporting

Output is best “digested” by practitioners in teaching and community support materials

Recommendations should be made explicit – data should not be left to “speak for themselves”

Opportunities for face-to-face delivery should be sought

Textual sources need to be presented in accessible language

Report in the “right” places: professional journals, open access, tweet and blog, use key researcher connectors


“Impact” 2012 onwards?

Professional bodies

Practitioner groups

Researcher groups


Higher profile for

research skills


LIRG invigorated


Practitioner groups

One third of the book’s contributors were associated with LIS Research Coalition activities

Event programme committee, speakers and delegates

DREaM network and cadre members

Prize winners


Research groups

working more closely

with practitioners


Other general impacts of the investment

New approaches to supporting LIS at “industry” level - Coalition

New approaches to delivering support, e.g. DREaM infrastructure

Popularising new approaches, e.g. one minute madness (see July 2012’s video)

Export to other subject domains

http://lisresearch.org/dream-project/dream-event-5-conference-monday-9-july-2012/dream-event-5-one-minute-madness/

Joining it all up: developing research-practice linkages in the UK

Presentation to the School of Business and Economics, Åbo Akademi University, Finland

Thursday 13th March 2014


joining it all up: developing research-practice linkages in the uk

Education

research context

published research

research approach

research centre

research resources

research excellence

consumers of research

execution of research