Research Use
anonymous.gif
  

Research Use (RU)  focuses on promoting the uptake and utilisation of research and encouraging a policy environment where evidence-based policy making is seen as key to making better decisions and achieving better outcomes.  RU works to ensure that key stakeholders (decision-makers, policy makers, practitioners, civil society etc.) understand the policy implications of our research and factor that into their work.   We do this in part by acting as  “knowledge intermediaries”, facilitiating the exchange of knowledge between the producers (researchers) and users (policy makers, practitioners and civil society groups) of research.

 The work of the Research Use unit is based on four key principles:


1./Research Uptake works best using processes that are interactive

2./ Research Communication is both a “push” and a “pull” activity

3/ Different models of uptake are appropriate in different situations:

  • Linear – the idea of a Policy Brief is based on this idea of research being summarized and send out to policy makers who then change the policy
  • Relationship models – these incorporate the linear model but focus more on the interactions between the people having and needing the knowledge – people are brought together to discuss and take forward policy recommendations that come out of research
  • Systems models – these models acknowledge the variety of players in the policy making process and focuses on co-larning and co-production of new knowledge
 4./ The environment in which research evidence influences policy is a complex one and research evidence competes with a number of other factors in order to be heard and a full understanding of these dynamics and the policy making environment is critical to the success of research being more effectively used in the policy making process.

Activities are divided into three main areas:

Research Mobilization

  • Fostering a culture of evidence based policy making by hosting the Policy Action Network
  • Supporting participatory research and public engagement
  • Developing relationships with stakeholders and role-players in SA, on the continent and beyond  
  • Building the capacity of researchers to engage more effectively with policy makers
  • Building the capacity of policy makers to absorb research
  • Translating research for diverse audiences, for example through the policy brief series

Preserving, utilising and promoting scientific data for further analysis

  • Data curation, dissemination and promotion of secondary use

Policy Dialogue Facility

  • Convening appropriate fora (dialogues, seminars, workshops and conferences) which will promote discussion and  engagement within and between the policy making and academic communities
  • Support the building of research capacity by hosting lunchtime seminars where both HSRC researchers as well as local and international researchers can present their research findings