joining it all up: developing research-practice linkages in the uk
DESCRIPTION
Seminar presentation on efforts to strengthen research-practice linkages in librarianship and information science in the UK since 2009 presented to the School of Business and Economics, Åbo Akademi University, Finland on Thursday 13th March 2014. There is a fuller report of my work visit to Finland at http://hazelhall.org/2014/03/17/social-media-and-public-libraries-a-doctoral-defence-in-finland/.TRANSCRIPT
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
Page 2
Professor Hazel Hall
@hazelh
http://hazelhall.org
http://about.me/hazelh
0131 455 2760
www.napier.ac.uk/iidi
Work of the Centre for Social Informatics
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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
www.napier.ac.uk/iidi
Two eras
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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
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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)
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http://lisresearch.org
http://lisresearch.org/dream http://lisresearch.org/rilies
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Resources still useful and
well-used
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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
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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
www.napier.ac.uk/iidi
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
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www.napier.ac.uk/iidi Page 11
… reduced anti-social behaviour
…contributed to improvements in pupils’ exam results
…attracted international student fee income
… raised research assessment ratings
… increased literacy levels
www.napier.ac.uk/iidi
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
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Booth, A. (2006). Clear and present questions: formulating questions for evidence based practice. Library Hi Tech, 24(3), 355-368.
www.napier.ac.uk/iidi
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
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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
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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
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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
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Launch conference
British Library Conference Centre, July 19th 201187 participantsProgramme included:
2 keynotes12 one minute madness presentations4 breakout sessionsPlenaryNetworking
Excellent feedback
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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
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Concluding conference
British Library Conference Centre, July 9th 201293 participantsProgramme included:
2 keynotes20 one minute madness presentationsInvited paperPanel sessionAward presentationNetworking
Excellent feedback
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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
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Professional event amplification
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Event reviews by delegates
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The DREaM online community
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The Twitter feed
www.napier.ac.uk/iidi Page 26
The Twitter list
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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.
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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?
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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
www.napier.ac.uk/iidi Page 30
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
www.napier.ac.uk/iidi Page 31
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
Increased familiarity with workshop themes
www.napier.ac.uk/iidi Page 32
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
Overall growth in theoretical knowledge
www.napier.ac.uk/iidi Page 33
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
Small increase of application in practice
www.napier.ac.uk/iidi Page 34
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
Increase in number of cadre member experts
www.napier.ac.uk/iidi Page 35
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
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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)
www.napier.ac.uk/iidi
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
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www.napier.ac.uk/iidi
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)
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www.napier.ac.uk/iidi
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
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www.napier.ac.uk/iidi
“Impact” 2012 onwards?
Professional bodies
Practitioner groups
Researcher groups
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Higher profile for
research skills
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LIRG invigorated
www.napier.ac.uk/iidi
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
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Research groups
working more closely
with practitioners
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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
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