Knowledge Translation CurriculumKnowledge Translation CurriculumKnowledge Translation CurriculumKnowledge Translation CurriculumModule 1: An Introduction to KT

Lesson 1 - Knowledge Translation: The Basics

ResearchResearch PolicyPolicy

KTKT

Knowledge Translation at the overlap of Research and Policy Processes

Knowledge Translation at the overlap of Research and Policy Processes

KT: a social processKT: 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

The traditional knowledge production process

Proposal Development

Publication

Research Project

FundingProblem Identification

Proposal Development

Proposal Development ChangeChange

peer-review; grey litResearch Project

Research ProjectFundingFunding

PrioritySettingPrioritySetting

involving multiplestakeholders

collaborativemultiple funders,including public sector

multi-disciplinary

;involving end

users;PublicationPublication

DatabaseDatabase

SynthesisSynthesis

open access

easilyaccessed

findings incorporatedinto bigger picture:systematic reviews,

policy briefs

PolicyDevelopment

PolicyDevelopment

evidence weighedalongside other influential

factors; policy responseto identified priorities formulated,

implemented, evaluated

collaboration

possible starting point

The KT-infused knowledge production process

The KT-infused knowledge production process

The typical policy process

The typical policy process

Problem Identification

Policy Formulation

Policy Adoption

Policy Implementation

Policy Evaluation

Problem Identification,Clarification

Problem Identification,Clarification

Policy Formulation

Policy Formulation

Policy AdoptionPolicy

AdoptionPolicy

ImplementationPolicy

Implementation

Policy Evaluation

Policy Evaluation Social ChangeSocial Change

priority-setting exercisewith multiple stakeholders

synthesize how research evidence, best practice,

experience, expert opinion etc. can potentially inform

policy development

Identification ofPolicy Options

Identification ofPolicy OptionsDialogueDialogue

with multiple stakeholders

DialogueDialoguereviewing systemic

implications;weighing all inputs

with research componentto assess, tweak policy

identifies new

priorities

The KT-infused policy process

The KT-infused policy process

The Four Spheres of KT

The Four Spheres of KT

Knowledge Productionset priorities;

conduct research

Knowledge Managementresearch made available

and accessible

Knowledge Synthesistailor, combine, broker &

disseminate

Knowledge Utilizationadopt, adapt, apply & demand

Change

KT DefinitionsKT 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 DefinitionsKT 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”.

ProblemProblem

KnowledgeKnowledgeContextContext

InterventionsInterventions

SolutionSolution

KT FrameworksKT Frameworks(Ward et al 2010)

Knowledgeinquiry

KnowledgesynthesisKnowledge

tools/products

Tailo

ring

Kn

owle

dge

Identify problem

Identify, review,select knowledge

ACTION CYCLE(application)

KNOWLEDGE CREATION

Adapt knowledge

to local context

Assess barriersto knowledge

Use

Select, tailor,implement

interventions

MonitorKnowledge

Use

EvaluateOutcomes

SustainKnowledge

Use

KT Frameworks

KT Frameworks (Graham et al 2006)

Integrated effortsIntegrated efforts

ResearchersResearchersPolicy-makersPolicy-makers

KT PlatformKT PlatformExchange effortsExchange efforts

ResearchersResearchersPolicy-makersPolicy-makers

Push effortsPush effortsResearchersResearchers

Policy-makersPolicy-makers

User Pull effortsUser Pull effortsResearchersResearchers

Policy-makersPolicy-makers

KT Frameworks

KT Frameworks

(Lavis et al 2006)

Major KT ApproachesMajor 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 co-production 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?