Measuring the success of facilitated engagement between knowledge producers and users: a validated scale

Abstract

Researchers are increasingly being asked to demonstrate the impact of their research on policy. Unfortunately, evidence on what works is scarce because it is rarely reported and evaluated. This paper describes a programme of facilitated engagement between knowledge producers and users on topics of joint research and policy interest, and validates a six-item evaluation instrument. Our results confirm a simple instrument can be used to assess the effectiveness and relevance of presentations and to gauge the users' receptivity to research. The success of our knowledge mobilisation strategy relies upon a favourable alignment of the social, political and economic contexts.