Open AccessCreating Impact: Issues, Challenges and Solutions: Sarah Morton Addresses Plenary
Author(s) -
Hardin Steve
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
bulletin of the association for information science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Conference proceedings
ISSN - 2373-9223
DOI - 10.1002/bul2.2016.1720420306
Subject(s) - viewpoints , plenary session , context (archaeology) , process (computing) , knowledge management , session (web analytics) , engineering ethics , computer science , sociology , public relations , management science , data science , political science , library science , engineering , world wide web , art , paleontology , visual arts , operating system , biology
EDITOR'S SUMMARY At the University of Edinburgh, Sarah Morton studies the process of social research and how it affects policy. In her plenary session at the 2015 ASI&T Annual Meeting she cast research impact as knowledge exchange, bringing together researchers, the ways research is used and consequent change. Morton explained that research is used to solve problems and drive knowledge development, typically with multiple contributors, and applied to alter viewpoints or bring about change. For research to have effect it must be communicated, presented in context and put together with real world experience. While a formal research setting promotes an organization's use of research, time issues, competing priorities and poor communication undermine getting the most benefit. When assessing research impact, the presence of collaborative networks, planned user engagement throughout the process and knowledge sharing strategies gained are key. The focus for research has evolved from knowledge dissemination to recognition of relationships and multiple information sources. Ideally a systems model of knowledge combines priorities, culture and context, mediated by relationships and including both researchers and those who put research findings to use.