Research communication: Insights from practice (UK Government)
A working paper of the Research Communication Strategy Group
Edited by Isabel Carter and Kurt Paulus
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08afc40f0b649740008bc/...
This working paper of the Research Commuication Strategy Group is more than 10 years old but includes a section on 'Supporting researchers to communicate':
'Researchers who make the challenging decision to engage with users early, strategically and imaginatively, may be surprised by the positive results. In addition to success within the academic field, the opportunity to share findings in the form of articles for web portals, press releases for the media or opportunities to present findings in conferences and workshop, brings satisfaction, increased impact and also enhances feedback.
'To enable researchers to have a significant impact on poverty, there needs to be a wider appreciation of the context they work within and the pressures they experience in producing robust research findings, so that they gain both sufficient support and
understanding and the necessary skills to equip them as effective research communicators.
'Research communication is a skilled activity addressing a range of audiences from policy makers to end users. The role of the researcher therefore needs to be complemented by the contribution of communication professionals. Skills and abilities to interpret complex findings and translate them into usable information for non-expert users without over simplification and ‘dumbing down’, are essential for researchers, journalists, intermediaries and CSOs.
'For effective communication there is a need to build working coalitions based on relationships of trust between those generating and those communicating research.
'Communicators need to understand that timing is key to influencing policy makers. Researchers and CSOs tend to communicate when they have findings ready to share and at their convenience, but findings that relate to policy makers have to be communicated when they are ready and willing to listen.'
Neil Pakenham-Walsh, Global Coordinator HIFA, www.hifa.org neil@hifa.org
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