Center on Knowledge Translation for Technology Transfer
Research Project 1. Knowledge Synthesis on Knowledge Translation Reconciled with Technology Transfer
Project R1 is using knowledge synthesis techniques to identify barriers to Knowledge Translation (KT) for Technology Transfer (TT), as well as the corresponding carriers used to overcome those barriers. The information that will drive this study will be drawn from a comprehensive mix of existing syntheses, current research reports, in-house content experts, and Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center and Small Business Innovation Research practitioners. The resulting data will be mapped onto two respective process models, the Product Development Managers Association (PDMA) model for TT, and the Knowledge to Action (KTA) model for KT. The data will also be contextualized to identify the parties to whom each piece of information is most relevant. The research questions that will be answered by this work include the following:
KT Research Questions
- What barriers, carriers, and models, methods, and measures exist in the KT literature?
- In what contexts have KT carriers, models, methods, and measures been applied?
- In what contexts have barriers arisen?
- How do KT barriers, carriers, and models, methods, and measures map on to the KTA model?
- What lessons learned from TT are relevant to improving KT practices to achieve TT outcomes?
TT Research Questions
- What barriers, carriers, and models, methods, and measures exist?
- How do TT barriers, carriers, and models, methods, and measures map on to the PDMA model?
- How do TT carriers, models, methods, and measures relate to the overcoming of barriers?
By answering these research questions, Project R1 strives to develop a set of KT tools that will permit the applicant to implement the KTA model at an operational level. Contextualizing all data will also help the applicant and potential knowledge producers to understand what tools can be used to effectively communicate knowledge to the various knowledge user categories, in forms and terms they will recognize, understand, and value. These same tools will help anticipate the barriers and the requisite carriers which may be encountered along the Knowledge to Action process.
