Trouwloon, D.T., Van Laerhoven, F., Hegger, D.L.T., Driessen, P.P.J. (2024) Aligning research uptake with context: Supporting researchers’ decisions towards context-appropriate research uptake strategies. Environmental Science & Policy 159 103882. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103822.
Abstract
Academic and non-academic societal actors alike are seeking to optimize the ways in which scientific research may contribute to sustainable development, for which a diverse range of research uptake strategies have been developed. Yet, while the literature emphasizes that the appropriateness of research uptake strategies depends on the context in which they are applied, designing appropriate research uptake strategies to fit a specific context remains a challenging decision-making task for many researchers. In this paper, we conceptualize appropriate research uptake strategies to be those that align with the research and societal sustainability contexts in which they are applied and account for the interactions that emerge between these two contexts. With the aim of supporting researchers in designing more appropriate research uptake strategies in a wide range of contexts, we then build on this conceptualization to propose an appropriateness-typology distinguishing between four broad research uptake approaches: the knowledge transfer approach; the commissioned research approach; the direct engagement approach; and the co-production approach. The typology matches each approach to the dynamic research and societal sustainability contexts in which it is most likely to be appropriate, while seeking to accommodate nuanced understandings of how researchers may approach uptake given different contexts and at the same time aiming at parsimony. By explicitly conceptualizing the role of context in research uptake decision-making and taking a first step towards an appropriateness-typology of research uptake, we hope to empower researchers to design more context-appropriate research uptake strategies such as to better contribute to sustainable development.
This article is about research uptake strategies. Research uptake is a necessary precursor to research impact. Research evidence (in many formats) needs to be taken up by societal actors in societal contexts to have an impact in society. It happens after research outputs are disseminated but before research use or implementation. There is a moment of research uptake where the research leaves the research context and is taken into the societal context. See the co produced pathway to impact which illustrates these different stages between research and impact.
The authors point out that the “research uptake process can, in principle, be plagued by problems with the production of scientific knowledge, challenges around the use of science in societal decision-making, and operational misfits between knowledge supply and demand factors.” Often we jump to co-production as the best method to mitigate against this misfit to ensure research is taken up and used by societal actors. But that assumes a researcher’s societal actor/partner has the skills, capacity, funding, time etc to act as a co-producer of research.
Recognizing not all societal contexts are the same, nor are the relationships between societal actors and researchers, the authors present a conceptual typology of four broad types of research uptake strategies. See Table 3 for a weirdly presented 2×2 matrix based on whether or not the societal actors do or don’t play a role in: research initiation and design; and research execution. This results in four different approaches to design of research uptake strategies.
- Knowledge transfer approach
- Commissioned research approach
- Direct engagement approach
- Co-production approach
Table 4 provides some examples of uptake strategies in each of these approaches.
As with all typologies and conceptual frameworks, they are only a starting point. “The typology is not intended as a stand-alone tool and does not itself produce detailed research uptake strategies. Rather, its use requires interpretation and creativity.” This means you can choose one of the four approaches but then you must adapt that to your context.
And here’s my take-away(s) for you:
- Which approach to choose? Speak to your societal partners to find out what works for them.
- How to adapt that approach to fit the societal context of its use? Speak to your societal partners to find out what works for them.
And finally…When thinking about context of the uptake strategy, quoting Wilson (2008), the authors state, “The closer you get to defining something, the more it loses its context. Conversely, the more something is put into context, the more it loses a specific definition”. Huh?
Questions for brokers:
- My huh? above. What do you think this means?
- I advise you to speak to your societal partners to find out what works for them. What if you don’t have any yet? (hint: do the work to find them first)
- Check table 4 and then discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the four approaches to research uptake.
Research Impact Canada is producing this journal club series to make evidence on knowledge mobilization more accessible to knowledge brokers and to facilitate discussion about research on knowledge mobilization. It is designed for knowledge brokers and other parties interested in knowledge mobilization.