APM Welcome, APM North West Network Conference, Synergies Across Sectors
Kmb for students 22 feb12
1. Knowledge Mobilization:
“So what is it you do for a living?”
Shawna Reibling,
Knowledge mobilization coordinator,
College of Social and Applied Human Sciences
Feb 28, 2012
sreiblin@uoguelph.ca x53714 @ICESGuelph
www.theresearchshop.ca
2. Outline:
•What is it? Where did it come from?
•Why do it?
•Why me?
•Examples
•Your turn
•Resources
www.theresearchshop.ca
3. What is knowledge mobilization?
• Knowledge mobilization (KMb) is a broad and
encompassing term that includes the
products, processes and relationships among
knowledge creators, users, and mediators (individuals
or intermediary organizations that support
knowledge brokering).
http://www.theresearchshop.ca/sites/default/files/Hawkins%20CSAHS%20CE%20and%20KM%20definitions.pdf
• “Yet knowledge mobilization in action surely must be
understood to be a circulation of multiple meanings and
responsibilities, in multiple directions—not just for diverse
users, but also for the knowledge producers.” Fenwick, T. (2008). Considering
‘Knowledge Mobilization’ in Educational Research: What knowledge, what mobilities, what responsibilities? Educational Insights, 12(2).
www.ccfi.educ.ubc.ca/publication/insights/v12n02/articles/fenwick/index.html
www.theresearchshop.ca
4. What is knowledge mobilization?
• SSHRC: “moving knowledge into active service for the
broadest possible common good”.
SSHRC (2008b). Knowledge impact in society: A SSHRC transformation program. Social Sciences and Humanities Research
Council. Available: http://www.sshrc.ca/web/apply/program_descriptions/knowledge_impact_e.asp
• “accepting a common set of values, such as respect for
others’ perspective (to encourage wide participation)”,
this is important in “acculturating new participants to
function effectively in knowledge networks”
Dede, C. The role of emerging technologies for knowledge mobilization, dissemination, and use in
education. Paper commissioned by Office of Educational Research and Improvement, US Dept. of
Education. www.virtual.gmu.edu
www.theresearchshop.ca
5. It is a contested area
http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/rspe/KM_Products/Terminology/index.html
www.theresearchshop.ca
6. Why do knowledge mobilization?
Research People
Values: relationships, processes, open
access, mutual benefit, full-cycle involvement
www.theresearchshop.ca
7. Where did this come from?
• Out of community based research (cbr) or CES
• out of university Commercialization
• Relationship building
• little “c” communications vs. Big “C”
communications
• Return on investment (ROI) for tax dollars
www.theresearchshop.ca
8. Why am I doing knowledge mobilization?
-Got bored doing lab work
-Process person
-Degrees in communication (big and little)
-community involvement
- use a/v skills
-Networks are important
-Measuring 'High Tech' Social Capital in the Biotechnology
Sector Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
http://summit.sfu.ca/item/10238
More stories at: http://researchimpact.wordpress.com/category/meet-a-mobilizer/
www.theresearchshop.ca
9. ResearchImpact
– Partnership of six universities
– Examples of services offered by researchimpact:
• I need to find community partners to work with
• I want to find someone who can put my research to use
• I am working with partners but want to grow and sustain my research
program
• My graduate student wants work experience with policy-makers
• We are doing our own research but we need help
• We need to do research but do not know where to start
• We need to tap into research, knowledge, and expertise at a university
Phipps, D. (2008) “Opinion Leader Editorial: Turning Research into Action” in Research Money Oct. 29, 2008: p. 8.
www.theresearchshop.ca
10. Is it knowledge mobilization?
Who: VEDC + Centre for Sustainability and
Social Innovation at UBC
Question: To determine Vancouver region’s
demonstrated strengths in green
technologies.
Process: An intensive program of outreach
to companies to determine which local
firms provide innovative technologies and
services, and where these are showcased.
Outputs: green technology project maps;
report: “Green Technology in Van.:
Demonstrated Strengths & Industry
Challenges.”; Roundtable of green
technology industry leaders (Notes here).
http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=10249432396444653 On-going relationship: VEDC will attempt to
2772.000469afa20bef6ecea77&ll=49.268701,-
123.012543&spn=0.430123,0.878906&z=10&source=embed update the company and project maps on
an ongoing basis.
www.theresearchshop.ca
12. How would you mobilize your work?
Research People
www.theresearchshop.ca
13. Resources (Your Supervisor asks why)
• SSHRC: “Knowledge mobilization is a core priority for
SSHRC…aimed at facilitating and enabling the
mobilization of knowledge to various sectors of society
to inform discussion, and enhance understanding and
decision-making”. www.sshrc.ca/web/apply/program_descriptions/mbf_public_outreach_e.asp
• Academic book: Nutley, Sandra M. (2007). Using
evidence: how research can inform public services.
Policy Press. ISBN 978-1861346643.
• A big long annotated bibliography:
www.oise.utoronto.ca/rspe/KM_Products/Annotated_
Bibliography
www.theresearchshop.ca
14. More Resources
• Case studies, SSHRC examples: Bennet, A and Bennet, D., With
Katherine Fafard, Marc Fonda, Ted Lomond, Laurent Messier and
Nicole Vaugeois. Knowledge Mobilization in the Social Sciences and
Humanities: Moving from Research to Action, In cooperation with
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
(SSHRC). Accessed at: http://www.mountainquestinstitute.com/
knowledge_mobilization.htm
• Some of the theory behind it: Levin, B. (2008). Thinking About
Knowledge Mobilization Paper prepared for an invitational
symposium sponsored CCL and SSHRC May 15-18, 2008
• Defining our terms:
http://www.theresearchshop.ca/sites/default/files/Hawkins%20CS
AHS%20CE%20and%20KM%20definitions.pdf
www.theresearchshop.ca
Goal-oriented people work steadily until they achieve their goal. Their motivation is the finished product. Their sense of satisfaction lies in a well-done, finished product. Goal-oriented people tend to work quickly, sometimes to the detriment of the finished product. Process-oriented people are motivated by the process of a project. They are interested in the planning and development. They receive their satisfaction in the work itself, and the completed process is secondary to the process. Process-oriented people sometimes have trouble finishing a project. By the time they near the end, the process is winding down, and their motivation and interest are lost.I learned this in terms of teaching. Most academics are process-oriented people (hence the reason so many take so long to finish their PhDs). Unfortunately, most students are goal-oriented people (hence the reason they ask questions like “Will this be on the test?”) . Understanding and working with these differing orientations can help lower frustration for both teachers and students.
