Transcript Slide 1
Knowledge Translation Curriculum
Module 1: An Introduction to KT
Lesson 1 - Knowledge Translation: The Basics
Knowledge Translation at the overlap of
Research and Policy Processes
Research
Policy
KT
KT: a social process
• part philosophy: how do we know what we
know?
• part anthropology: why did the worlds of
science and policy evolve so separately?
• part sociology: how do we make the
collective decisions we make?
• part social science: what are the major
issues we require more knowledge on?
• part political science: what mechanisms
can better unite science and policy?
• part luck and part chance
The traditional
knowledge production process
Proposal
Development
Publication
Problem
Identification
Research
Project
Funding
The KT-infused
knowledge production process
multiple funders,
multicollaborative
including
public
sector
disciplinary;
involving end
users;
collaboration
open access
peer-review; grey lit
Research
Funding Project Publication
Proposal
Development
Change
Database
easily
accessed
Priority Policy
Synthesis
SettingDevelopment findings incorporated
involving multiple
stakeholders
possible starting point
into bigger picture:
evidence weighed
systematic reviews,
alongside other influential
policy briefs
factors; policy response
to identified priorities formulated,
implemented, evaluated
The typical policy
process
Policy
Formulation
Problem
Identification
Policy
Adoption
Policy
Implementation
Policy
Evaluation
The KT-infused policy
process
synthesize how research
evidence, best practice,
experience, expert opinion etc.
priority-setting exercise
can potentially inform policy
with multiple stakeholders
development with multiple stakeholder
Problem
Identification of Dialogue
Identification, Policy Options
Clarification
Policy
Evaluation
Social Change
identifies
new
priorities
Policy
Formulation
Dialogue
Policy
Implementation
with research component
to assess, tweak policy
Policy
Adoption
The Four Spheres of KT
Knowledge Management
research made available
and accessible
Knowledge Production
set priorities;
conduct research
Change
Knowledge Synthesis
tailor, combine, broker
& disseminate
Knowledge Utilization
adopt, adapt, apply & demand
KT Definitions
• “the exchange, synthesis and ethically-sound
application of knowledge - within a complex system of
interactions among researchers and users - to
accelerate the capture of the benefits of research for
Canadians through improved health, more effective
services and products, and a strengthened health care
system.” (CIHR 2006; 2009).
• “KT is an ongoing interactive human process of
critically considering relevant, quality research results
and findings, whether factual or tacit knowledge or
humanistic understanding, blending this broader
researcher-based knowledge with experiential
knowledge and contextual appreciation, and
constructing a shared understanding and knowledge
application to advance the quality of health care”
(McWilliam 2007).
KT Definitions
• engaged scholarship: collaborative research teams of
researchers and practitioners “have the potential to
ground and understand complex problems in ways
that are more penetrating and insightful than they
would be were either scholars or practitioners to study
them alone” (Van de Ven and Johnson 2006):
• knowledge is a matter of perspective
• a richly complex “context dictates the realm of
the possible” (Contandriopolos et al 2010).
• KT is “a context-shaped process creating cycles of
evidence-informed policy and policy-informed
evidence designed to generate social change”.
KT Frameworks
(Ward et al 2010)
Problem
Knowledge
Context
Interventions
Solution
KT
Frameworks
Select, tailor,
implement
interventions
(Graham et al 2006)
Monitor
Knowledge
Use
KNOWLEDGE CREATION
Evaluate
Outcomes
Knowledge
inquiry
Assess barriers
to knowledge
Use
Knowledge
synthesis
Knowledge
tools/
products
Adapt
knowledge
to local context
Identify problem
Identify, review,
select knowledge
ACTION CYCLE
(application)
Sustain
Knowledge
Use
KT
Frameworks
(Lavis et al 2006)
Policy-makers Policy-makers
Researchers
Push efforts
Researchers
User Pull efforts
ResearchersPolicy-makers
ResearchersPolicy-makers
KT Platform
Integrated efforts
Exchange efforts
Major KT Approaches
• end-of-grant KT: researcher designs and
implements a strategy to disseminate
research findings to key research users.
Done on completion of research. E.g.
peer-reviewed paper, conference
presentation, press release.
• integrated KT: knowledge users involved
in the design, implementation and findings
of research projects. Encourages coproduction processes of both research
and policy. E.g. KTPs, Rapid Responses,
multi-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder
research projects.
• KT science: what works in KT, for whom,
and under what circumstances?