NCJ Number
51457
Journal
EVALUATION, SPECAL ISSUE (1978) Pages: 48-53
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES FOR FACILITATING KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AND PLANNED CHANGE--PUTTING RESEARCH FINDINGS TO THE BEST USE--ARE CONSIDERED.
Abstract
TECHNIQUES FOR ASSURING THE UTILITY AND THE USE OF RESEARCH PRODUCTS THAT HAVE PROVED EFFECTIVE IN THE PLANNING AND FUNDING, RESEARCH, PRODUCT (REPORT) PREPARATION, AND POSTRESEARCH PHASES OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ARE REVIEWED. AMONG THESE ACTIVITIES ARE REQUIRING GRANT AND CONTRACT APPLICANTS TO ADDRESS CERTAIN QUESTIONS RELEVANT TO THE PURPOSES AND ULTIMATE USES OF THEIR PROJECTS, MAINTAINING CONTINUOUS CONTACT WITH POTENTIAL USERS DURING THE RESEARCH PHASE, COMPLETING A CAREFUL ITERATIVE (CRITIQUE-REVISION-NEW CRITIQUE) ANALYSIS AND EDITING OF THE RESEARCH REPORT, PLANNING FOR DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH PRODUCTS OR FINDINGS, AND PROMOTING RESEARCHER-USER COOPERATION IN IMPLEMENTING PRODUCTS OR FINDINGS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT, ALTHOUGH THESE TACTICS HAVE PROVED EFFECTIVE, A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM TO FACILITATE KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AND PLANNED CHANGE IS NEEDED. SUCH A PROGRAM SHOULD EMPHASIZE INCENTIVES FOR ENTICING POTENTIAL USERS TO BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT THAT APPEARS RELEVANT TO THEIR SITUATIONS, NEEDS, AND VALUES. THERE IS ALSO A NEED FOR FURTHER RESEARCH ON HOW TO EVALUATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS, AND FOR CLOSER INTERACTION WITH THE ULTIMATE CONSUMERS OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TO DISCOVER HOW THEY USE, OR MIGHT BETTER USE, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT RESULTS. DEVELOPMENTS IN INFORMATION SCIENCE THAT ILLUSTRATES EFFORTS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF USERS ARE CITED. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT INFORMATION SYSTEMS SHOULD OFFER USERS READY ACCESS, SPEEDY TURNAROUND TIME, EASE IN INTERPRETING OUTPUT, AND A HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE IN THE RELIABILITY, VALIDITY, AND COST-BENEFIT OF THE DATA BEING MADE AVAILABLE. THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE BENEFITS OF ENHANCED INFORMATION SCIENCE TECHNIQUES MAY HAVE BEEN OVERSOLD IS POINTED OUT, WITH REFERENCE TO THE FALLACY OF ASSUMING THAT POLICY DECISIONS ARE INFLUENCED PRIMARILY BY THE QUALITY AND VALIDITY OF THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO DECISIONMAKERS. BECAUSE SUBJECTIVE FACTORS (FEELINGS, VALUES, PREJUDICES, SPECIAL INTERESTS, ETC.) FREQUENTLY EXERT A GREATER INFLUENCE ON DECISIONMAKING THAN DOES THE QUALITY OF INFORMATION, THE FIELDS OF INFORMATION SCIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE UTILIZATION ARE URGED TO STUDY NOT ONLY THE WAY PEOPLE EVALUATE, SYNTHESIZE, AND COMMUNICATE, BUT ALSO WHY THEY DO AS THEY DO, AND HOW THEY MAY BE HELPED TO IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS. THE NEED FOR FUNDING SOURCES TO GIVE GREATER CONSIDERATION TO SUPPORTING LONGER-TERM RESEARCH IS ALSO NOTED. (LKM)