Center on Knowledge Translation for Technology Transfer
Research Project 2. - Establishing the Context of Knowledge Production and Knowledge Utilization
Research Project 2 will conduct qualitative research on Knowledge Producers and on Knowledge Users to identify the barriers and carriers to knowledge utilization within the three technology focus areas: 1) wheeled mobility; 2) sensory/AAC; 3) environmental access.
Project R2 is focused on the first stage of the KTA cycle, following the “end of grant” creation of new knowledge as shown in Figure R2.1.
Figure R2.1. Project R2 activity limited to first step in KTA Action Cycle.
Project R2A Grantee Innovation Profiles (GIP) will apply a case study methodology to establish the context innovative “end of grant” knowledge produced by RERC and SBIR grantees in the three selected technology areas. Each GIP case study will identify the “end of grant” knowledge outputs, assess their quality of innovativeness, and establish evidence-based benchmarks of the dissemination and utilization outcomes for those determined to be innovative.
R2A Case Study Research Questions:
- What new knowledge do NIDRR technology grantees produce through research projects?
- What barriers and carriers arise in identifying and meeting user needs through the application of research-based knowledge?
- What new knowledge outputs have potential value and utility to the various categories of knowledge users – represent true innovations?
- What efforts do NIDRR technology grantees make to communicate these innovative knowledge outputs to potential knowledge users?
- What barriers and carriers impact the depth and breadth of the diffusion of these knowledge outputs among the knowledge users?
Project R2B Knowledge Value Profiles (KVP) will extract evidence of barriers and carriers to the utilization process for knowledge users in the three technology areas. It will establish knowledge value in the context of each of the six categories of knowledge users, at the organization level of analysis. The applicant proposes to apply marketing practices to helping NIDRR technology grantees define their customers – the six categories of knowledge users previously defined. In lieu of product market profiles, the applicant will create Knowledge Value Profiles. One KVP for each user category. In a very real sense, the user’s capacity to value new knowledge is analogous to a market’s capacity to value a new product. The KVPs will map value structures for research-based knowledge and document evidence of recent knowledge utilization practices.
R2B Value Mapping Research Questions:
- To what extent do various groups of knowledge users within your organization and membership, value knowledge outputs from research centers?
- What barriers and carriers arise in the valuation assessment of research by knowledge users within your organization and sector?
- What capabilities do your knowledge uses currently possess to successfully adapt and apply new research-based knowledge?
- How and in what ways do your knowledge users apply research knowledge (instrumental, conceptual, strategic)?
- What evidence can you provide of recent use of research knowledge?
Project R2 Outputs
By the end of Year One of the DRRP, the R2 Project will generate:
Twenty-four Pre-Intervention Measures of KT Attitudes and Behaviors – R2 will conduct pre-intervention measures of attitudes and behaviors about KT. R2A will do so for the six NIDRR grantee PI’s, and R2B will do so for the eighteen organizations (six per technology area). The plan is to conduct a post-intervention measure of KT attitudes and behaviors, with the same individuals during the fifth grant year, to chart changes related to participation.
Six sets of Grantee Innovation Profiles – One set each for the validated innovation outputs from the three RERCs and three SBIRs. The total number of innovations within each set cannot be determined a priori, but the inclusion criteria for both groups ensures an adequate inventory of knowledge outputs from each grantee.
Three sets of Knowledge Value Profiles – one set consisting of six categories for each of the three selected technology areas. Each category will include at least one organization representing the individual users in that category. In some cases, the project may elect to contact more than one organization within a particular category, should they discover cause to create sub-categories of knowledge users.
Six Barrier and Carrier Matrices – one set for each of the three technology areas, each containing one matrix for the Knowledge Production System, and a second for the Knowledge Utilization System. These matrices will be assembled from the barriers and their related carriers, stratified by system level (individual, organization, sector) where they appear. The matrices will provide a case-based and category-based reference template for planning, implementing and managing the KT process to accomplish innovative knowledge outputs and knowledge utilization for technology transfer outcomes.
The information on carriers and barriers collected in year one, will be fed back into the R1 Knowledge Synthesis and Integration process, and fed forward for use in R3 KT Intervention study. The same information will be supplied to the D1 TT Demonstration Project, and integrated into the D2 Knowledge Base. The Utilization Project will also apply this information to the dissemination, training and technical assistance activities. Project R2 will stop at the end of Year One. The post-intervention surveys of producers and users will occur through Project R3.
