Matthews, P., Rutherfoord, R., Connelly, S. orcid.org/0000-0003-1758-0366 et al. (3 more authors) (2018) Everyday stories of impact: interpreting knowledge exchange in the contemporary university. Evidence and Policy: a journal of research, debate and practice, 14 (4). pp. 665-682. ISSN 1744-2648
Abstract
Research into the barriers of getting evidence produced by academics into policymaking processes has often highlighted the lack of research on academics and what they do, as compared to what policymakers do. This was most recently highlighted in a systematic review of the literature (Oliver et al, 2014). This paper reports on research carried out with academics who were tasked with producing evidence reviews for the UK Department for Communities and Local Government based on research funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council. Using a novel co-produced methodology the academics were interviewed by an academic and a UK civil servant, with the analysis carried out by both. Using an interpretive approach, the findings identify specific meaning-making stories or practices that were enablers or barriers to producing evidence suitable for policymakers. The paper identifies three areas that affect academic behaviour at the nexus with policymaking: career biographies; disciplinary background; and the contradictory institutional pressures on academics. We conclude by arguing for a more collaborative approach between academics and policymakers. The co-produced approach also allowed us to identify the need for policymakers and civil servants to learn more about the different drivers of academics and the ways in which they work.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017 Policy Press. This is an author produced version of a paper subsequently published in Evidence and Policy. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | academic evidence; academics; co-production; universities |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Department of Urban Studies & Planning (Sheffield) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number ARTS AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL (AHRC) AH/L013223/1 ARTS AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL (AHRC) UNSPECIFIED |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 04 Jul 2017 08:49 |
Last Modified: | 16 Oct 2023 15:42 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Policy Press |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1332/174426417X14982110094140 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:118459 |