Using and sharing research and evaluation findings 

Evaluation and research is only worthwhile if the results are used. When we collect data we need to ask:

So what?
This question asks: how important are the findings. Do the findings raise questions and prompt us to reconsider existing programs, services or polices? Or do the findings simply validate what we already know. If so, perhaps they provide justification that the program/service/policy should be continued or provide evidence that it could be expanded or adapted elsewhere.

Now what?
This question asks: what will we do with the information collected? Do we continue to implement the program/services/policy with no changes? Do we stop the program/service/policy? Do we need to do more evaluation or research?

Sharing findings from research and evaluation

Sharing your research and evaluation findings ensures others working in similar areas have access to information on what works, why and for whom. Increasing access to this knowledge supports effective practice which can lead to improvements in health outcomes. Before you share details of your research or evaluation you may wish to consider^[1].

• What would you like to share? Reflect on what makes your program or research unique and what interesting things you have learned.

• Why would you like to share? Consider the purpose or benefit of sharing the information you have.

• Who would you like to share with? Deciding on your audience will help you to determine what you will share and how you will share it. You may wish to share details with service providers, researchers, policymakers, or your community.

• How will you share? There are many ways you can share what you have found including at conferences, social media, websites, print media, reports or journal articles. An example of a research project that has shared its findings using multiple strategies including conference presentations, media releases, infographics, reports, and publications can be found here. 

RESOURCES

Five-step checklist for knowledge exchange

This resource provides a stepwise approach for public health decision-makers to use for planning and doing knowledge exchange and dissemination. For instance, this toolkit would be helpful for sharing information about a new program to other public health practitioners, or sharing information and expertise among different stakeholders in an intersectoral collaboration.

Knowledge translation process: A facilitation tool

This tool provides a comprehensive and dynamic conceptualisation of knowledge translation for public health, outlining relationships, factors and determinants to facilitate knowledge sharing and use among individuals and groups.

Presenting at conferences

SiREN has developed a video resource to support you to present at conferences. This resource will step you through how to shape your presentation, how to prepare for questions from your audience and provide you with three key elements of effective presentations. 

Developing an Effective Evaluation Report

The Centre for Disease Control has developed a workbook describing how to write an evaluation report. The purpose of the workbook is to support understanding of what constitutes a final evaluation report; why a final report is important; and how to develop an effective report.

Report and support use of evaluations

The Better Evaluation website provides an overview of how to report on and utilise the findings of an evaluation. 

Knowledge Mobilization and Design

The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness have developed a layered approach to knowledge mobilisation. This guide will assist you in making your research accessible, understandable and relevant to the target audience. This allows the audience to gain an overview of the work from an infographic or a tweet, and then dive deeper into the full report if they wish.

 

REFERENCES

1. Denning S. The strategy of knowledge management. 2016. Available from: http://www.stevedenning. com/Knowledge-Management/strategy-ofknowledge-management.aspx