Planning tool for knowledge dissemination

Description

This web-based resource is a self-inventory tool designed to help researchers identify and reach the intended end users of research, and facilitate their use of research. Given the emphasis on knowledge dissemination and application in funding applications, it is critical for researchers to use an approach focused on the end-user. By considering the preferences, needs, characteristics and interests of end users, researchers can facilitate the use of research findings in practice.

This planning tool uses a series of questions to assess the effectiveness of knowledge dissemination plans. In addition to checklists to identify strengths and weaknesses of intended dissemination strategies across four content areas, a scoring guide and resources help with dissemination planning.The four major content areas covered by the tool include:

• organizational structures and policies
• research design
• dissemination plan
• evaluation plan

The planning tool also assesses how well a knowledge dissemination plan addresses these four basic components of dissemination:

• the dissemination source (the agency or individual responsible for creating the new knowledge or program and/or for disseminating information about the innovation)
• the content to be disseminated (the innovation itself and any supporting information)
• the dissemination media used (how the innovation is 'packaged' for different audiences)
• the intended user of the innovation

This tool draws on models of knowledge dissemination and use. Within the four major elements of dissemination, certain issues influence how readily intended users attend to and use information. It is critical to assess these issues when developing an effective dissemination plan.

• Dissemination source: perceived competence, credibility, motives and sensitivity to user concerns, etc., of the dissemination source will influence the extent to which the message is received by the intended users.
• Dissemination content: the credibility of research, the usefulness and relevance of information to users, the research design and methods, the cost effectiveness of findings and the fit between new findings and existing practice will influence how intended users perceive the new knowledge and their use of the innovation.
• Dissemination media: the timeliness of the message, accessibility and ease of use, reach to intended users, credibility of the channel and clarity and flexibility of the medium influence how well the message is received.
• Intended users: the users' readiness to change, information needs, capacity to use information and perceived relevance to their needs will affect their ability to act on the messages received.

Steps for Using Method/Tool

A series of 35 questions assess how well the intended users of research have been considered in the planning for knowledge dissemination. The questions cover four topic areas and are divided into sections with checklists:

1. Organizational structure and policies: reviews organizational policies such as a formal dissemination policy and structures for building relationships with intended end users of research.
2. Research design: assesses how intended end users of research were included in the research design process, from data collection to selecting outcomes for study
3. Dissemination plan: determines how intended end users were involved in creating the dissemination plan, from choosing relevant dissemination methods, to field testing dissemination products. This section also assesses how well the dissemination plan accomodates a diverse spectrum of intended end users
4. Evaluation: assesses inclusion of end users in the evaluation of dissemination efforts, such as how feedback is solicited from intended end users of dissemination products, and their role in selecting evaluation goals.

A scoring guide that compiles responses to questions answered in each checklist is also included with this tool. The scoring guide assesses the effectivenesss of project plans across the four sections outlined above, and the five core elements of knowledge dissemination (intended users, dissemination source, dissemination content, dissemination media and diversity). Additional resources include a list of articles organized by topic to provide the reader with more information.