Crouching resources, hidden reasoning: Using realist approaches to address the challenges of Knowledge Mobilisation Research
Abstract
Research into knowledge mobilisation is concerned with how and to what end knowledge is shared, spread, and used. The focus of Knowledge Mobilisation Research (KMR) is typically on the relationship between research and... [ view full abstract ]
Research into knowledge mobilisation is concerned with how and to what end knowledge is shared, spread, and used. The focus of Knowledge Mobilisation Research (KMR) is typically on the relationship between research and practice and how these two inform, or fail to inform, each other but can also include study of the ways other forms of knowledge are created, communicated, and applied.
There are a number of recurrent challenges in KMR. These include the tension between fidelity and adaptation (do it strictly by the book or change things so they make sense in local context?); the varying but central role of leaders, facilitators, and champions that can make all the difference in whether something does what it’s anticipated it will do; the fact that knowledge use depends on how the ‘recipient’ of the knowledge interprets it in context and what it means for their practice; and so on.
In all of these issues, and others, difficulties and uncertainties that we might recognise as related to contexts, mechanisms (the interaction of people’s reasoning and resources), and outcomes come repeatedly to the fore. Recognising this, we propose that applying a realist approach to KMR is an important and valuable next step for both fields, in particular for the potential development of explanatory middle-range theories.
In this roundtable session we will:
1. Introduce participants to KMR
2. Summarise examples of realist research that have made distinctive contributions to KMR (intervention development, service delivery changes, evaluation of cross-organisational knowledge mobilisation, synthesis of process evaluations) and reflect on their strengths and weaknesses
3. Explore how realist approaches could be used to address additional challenges in KMR
4. Identify future collaborations and work necessary to develop realist KMR.
Authors
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Iain Lang
(University of Exeter)
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Mark Pearson
(University of Exeter)
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Rebecca Hardwick
(University of Exeter)
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Jo Day
(University of Exeter)
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Annette Boaz
(St George's, University of London & Kingston University)
Topic Areas
Please select one of the following:: Realist research (other) , Please select a maximum of two themes from the following list:: Innovation in Realist Inqu
Session
RT-3 » Roundtable Session III (11:30 - Tuesday, 4th October, Frobisher Room 5)
Presentation Files
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