Making it work: co-producing
impact evaluation.
Professor Imogen Taylor
Department of Social Work and
Social Care
Social Work contribution to
KTP partnership and co-production.
• Research track record:
co-production, partnership and participation.
• Commitment to research that has an ongoing
impact by generating change in policy and
practice
• User/carer network established in 2003
• Appointment of experienced KTP Research
Associate
UK Universities, 2014
‘Impact’ assessment.
Impact refers to an effect on, change or benefit
to:
• activity, attitude, awareness, behaviour,
capacity, opportunity, performance, policy,
practice, process or understanding, of a
community, constituency, organisation or
individual.
The university view:
impact of KTP & benefits for NCDA.
Contribution to:
• Learning and embedding co-production;
• Embedding evaluation of impact, including
economic evaluation of activities;
• Facilitating gathering and sharing of data;
• Quality improvement of services;
• One-to one and small group mentoring of staff on
specific programmes;
• Utilising evidence to support funding proposals;
• Successful outcomes of regulatory assessments;
• Building a national and international reputation.
Impact of KTP & tangible benefits for
the University
Department of Social Work
• Field placements for social work students in a
community development setting.
• Centre for Innovation and Research in Childhood and
Youth.
School of Media Film and Music
• students and NCDA young people – premier of 3 short
films today.
Department of Economics:
• engagement with NCDA through Pro Bono Economics.
Second KTP for Sussex:
• Dept of Engineering (tba)
‘Knowledge Transfer’ and impact on
knowledge production
A growing body of work on the translation and
transfer of research to practice:
Knowledge ‘translation’ comprises:
•i) critically considering research findings
blended with NCDA practice knowledge; and,
•ii) understanding and managing the interaction
of the project with the organisation and the
wider context.
Also important to influence impact
on knowledge production
Collaboratively produced knowledge is necessary
but not sufficient; it does not, by itself, enhance
knowledge use or research uptake
Also important
i) networks - working with and between complex
systems of relationships between researchers,
practitioners and end users; and,
ii) ‘bridge’ individuals with specific skill sets
dedicated to Knowledge Transfer.
Why has KTP worked?
The university view
• Time to plan, implement and reflect - a threeyear funded project.
• A shared vision, understanding and application.
• Co-operation not colonisation at all levels.
• A focus on ‘real world’ problems located in the
organisation, community and wider context.
• A KTP requirement for regular communication
(and meetings).
• The Project Associate as a ‘boundary spanner’
(Wenger, 1999) facilitating bridges between
research producers and users.
My reflections
• Most challenging?
The amount of time spent in meetings.
• Most satisfying?
Engaging practically and intellectually with
knowledge exchange.
Conversation Starter?
How is the impact of knowledge
transfer sustained and developed
beyond the formal end of projects?