Strengthening the links between research and practice: the Research in Librarianship Impact Evaluation Study (RiLIES)

Strengthening the links between researchand practice: the Research in Librarianship Impact Evaluation Study (RiLIES) Presentation by Professor Hazel Hall Online 2011, London Olympia, 1st December 2011

Professor Hazel Hall• Director of the Centre for Social Informatics, Edinburgh Napier University – h.hall@napier.ac.uk; @hazelh

Professor Hazel Hall• Director of the Centre for Social Informatics, Edinburgh Napier University – h.hall@napier.ac.uk; @hazelh• Seconded to lead the implementation of the Library and Information Science Research Coalition – hazel.hall@lisresearch.org; @LISResearch

The impact agenda: why?• Investment in research should deliver a socio- economic impact

The impact agenda: why?• Investment in research should deliver a socio- economic impact – Need for an evidence base on which to base decision-making in public services • Need for the evidence base to be consulted

The impact agenda: why?• Investment in research should deliver a socio- economic impact – Need for an evidence base on which to base decision-making in public services • Need for the evidence base to be consulted – Research funders focus on value for money

The impact agenda: why?• Investment in research should deliver a socio- economic impact – Need for an evidence base on which to base decision-making in public services • Need for the evidence base to be consulted – Research funders focus on value for money – REF2014

Impact in the context of Library and Information Science• The evaluation of library and information services – What is the impact of these services?

Impact in the context of Library and Information Science• The evaluation of library and information services – What is the impact of these services?• Methods for evaluating library and information services – What is the best way to measure the impact of service provision?

Impact in the context of Library and Information Science• The evaluation of library and information services – What is the impact of these services?• Methods for evaluating library and information services – What is the best way to measure the impact of service provision?• Bibliometrics – What is the impact of this research on the research of others (academic impact)?

Impact in the context of RiLIES• To what extent do funded research projects in library and information science influence practice in the UK?

Impact in the context of RiLIES• To what extent do funded research projects in library and information science influence practice in the UK?• Which factors increase/hinder the impact of research findings on those who deliver library and information services?

RiLIES project team• Centre for Social Informatics, Institute for Informatics and Digital Innovation, Edinburgh Napier University – Professor Hazel Hall – Peter Cruickshank – Ella Taylor-Smith – Jenny Gebel

RiLIES project stages• February to July 2011• Desk research – Literature review• Empirical work – Practitioner poll – 5 case studies of “impactful” projects – 3 sector-specific focus groups – Validation survey

5 “Impactful” studies identified from the practitioner poll1. Open to all (2000)2. eValued (2004)3. Researchers’ use of academic libraries (2007)4. Evaluating clinical librarian studies (2009)5. School libraries in the UK (2010)

Findings: new insight• Preference amongst practitioners for face-to- face dissemination channels – Much greater than previously reported • Tailored presentation • Lower incidence of information overload • Addresses issue of fragmented infrastructures

Findings: new insight• Preference amongst practitioners for face-to- face dissemination channels – Much greater than previously reported • Tailored presentation • Lower incidence of information overload • Addresses issue of fragmented infrastructures• Social media for raising awareness of research – Immediacy, updates on on-going projects

Findings: new insight• Preference amongst practitioners for face-to- face dissemination channels – Much greater than previously reported • Tailored presentation • Lower incidence of information overload • Addresses issue of fragmented infrastructures• Social media for raising awareness of research – Immediacy, updates on on-going projects• Importance of research sponsorship

Findings: new insight• Preference amongst practitioners for face-to- face dissemination channels – Much greater than previously reported • Tailored presentation • Lower incidence of information overload • Addresses issue of fragmented infrastructures• Social media for raising awareness of research – Immediacy, updates on on-going projects• Importance of research sponsorship• Links between engagement and reward

Project conception and plans for impact• Practitioners need to be involved in research design

Project conception and plans for impact• Practitioners need to be involved in research design• Funders need to support research relevant to the needs of the practitioner community – Allied to this, explicit goal of research should be to influence practice

Project conception and plans for impact• Practitioners need to be involved in research design• Funders need to support research relevant to the needs of the practitioner community – Allied to this, explicit goal of research should be to influence practice• Research undertaken needs to have high level support – Steering committees, influential stakeholders

Project execution for impact• Practitioners need to participate in the research from the outset, with appropriate – Methods – Approaches – Dissemination strategies

Project reporting for impact• LIS research output needs to be accessible to the target audience – Where? • Best in teaching and community support materials

Project reporting for impact• LIS research output needs to be accessible to the target audience – Where? • Best in teaching and community support materials• Researchers need to take into account practitioner preferences for consuming research output – What and how? • Explicit recommendations in accessible language, delivered face-to-face

Receptive audiences for impact• Librarians and information scientists from less research-active sectors can learn from those where there is greater engagement – e.g. healthcare librarians

Receptive audiences for impact• Librarians and information scientists from less research-active sectors can learn from those where there is greater engagement – e.g. healthcare librarians• There is a need for training to support interest in research, and raise awareness of resources

Receptive audiences for impact• Librarians and information scientists from less research-active sectors can learn from those where there is greater engagement – e.g. healthcare librarians• There is a need for training to support interest in research, and raise awareness of resources• A CPD requirement related to research would encourage greater participation

RiLIES as an example of good practice for impact?• High relevance – impact agenda

RiLIES as an example of good practice for impact?• High relevance – impact agenda• Influential stakeholders – LIS Research Coalition & member bodies

RiLIES as an example of good practice for impact?• High relevance – impact agenda• Influential stakeholders – LIS Research Coalition & member bodies• Practitioner involvement – Project design and project execution

RiLIES as an example of good practice for impact?• High relevance – impact agenda• Influential stakeholders – LIS Research Coalition & member bodies• Practitioner involvement – Project design and project execution• Dissemination strategy and access – Social media – Face-to-face dissemination

Further information• On LIS Research Coalition web pages – Project page http://lisresearch.org/rilies-project – Blog updates at http://lisresearch.org• On Twitter – @LIS_RiLIES• Project report to be published by the Research Information Network

Acknowledgements• LIS Research Coalition – especially Michael Jubb & Stephanie Kenna• Case study interviewees – John Vincent, Dave Muddiman, Pete Dalton, Sheila Cannel, Alison Brettle, Sue Shaper, David Streatfield• Survey respondents and focus group members• “Supporters” – especially Elaine Fulton, Rhona Arthur, Amanda Poulton, Alison Brettle, Maria Grant, CILIP

Strengthening the links between researchand practice: the Research in Librarianship Impact Evaluation Study (RiLIES) Presentation by Professor Hazel Hall Online 2011, London Olympia, 1st December 2011

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Strengthening the links between research and practice: the Research in Librarianship Impact Evaluation Study (RiLIES)

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Strengthening the links between research and practice: the Research in Librarianship Impact Evaluation Study (RiLIES) — Presentation Transcript