Direct engagement best for utilisation

Direct engagement in professional development, workshops and project teams is the most effective way to use research, according to the 2016 joint Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC and AFAC Review of Research Utilisation survey.

Building upon a steady stream of tailored information and communication is also important and was a key insight of the review which surveyed more than 260 people, from front line staff to the heads of 29 agencies. It is the fourth survey to be conducted on research utilisation practices across the industry since 2010.

Participants were asked about their perceptions of and satisfaction with a range of current research utilisation tools and resources to determine how well they assist agencies to access, understand and leverage CRC research and its outputs.

The survey also explored indicators of agency capability and level of maturity in using research and their connections with agency culture.

Among its key findings the review indicates:

• Traditional information dissemination and communication, such as CRC and AFAC websites, publications and newsletters, continue to be integral for raising awareness of, providing access to, and developing understanding of CRC research and its outputs.
• Direct engagement of research end-users in targeted professional development, workshops and project teams is effective for developing capability to assess, plan, monitor and evaluate the impact or change from using CRC research outputs.
• Agencies rate these direct engagement methods as more effective in building capability to assess impact and plan for change in practice than traditional information dissemination and communication methods. 
• Agencies are at different stages in terms of their research utilisation capability and capacity and require different levels of support and resources depending on their stage of organisational maturity in using research.

Respondents also indicated that there had been no upward trend in their perceptions of the development of learning cultures within agencies during the six-year period of the survey.

AFAC’s Manager of Research Utilisation Noreen Krusel says research such as this survey supports ongoing learning and innovation.

“Research and evidence can show how and where we can strive for improvement and provide insights and direction for doing things differently,” she says.

“This survey, for example, gives us useful insights and an evidence-base on which to inform research utilisation strategy and planning.”

Some of the initiatives being explored, extended or developed to address the opportunities and gaps identified in the 2016 survey are:

• Creating and supporting opportunities to directly engage research end-users in utilisation of research through targeted professional development and workshops.
• Tailoring information and communications for diverse audiences – from the front line to agency heads – on research, its outputs and implications for change and impact.
• Broadening communication channels to increase access to, understanding of and engagement with CRC research and its outputs. 
• Co-developing tools, products and learner resources for research end-users to assist uptake and application of research outputs. 
• Identifying and sharing industry best practice examples of impact and evidence-based practice change from utilisation of CRC research.
• Developing a research utilisation self-assessment tool, based on the concept of organisational maturity, to help agencies understand how effective they are gathering and using research and potential for improvement. 
• Developing a dedicated tool kit to support CRC researchers and AFAC member agencies in working collaboratively to maximise the value of research for agencies, the sector and broader community.

A full copy of the 2016 Research Utilisation Review can be downloaded above.