Institute of Development Studies

Research themes

At a time when Aid Effectiveness is high on the development sectors agenda, we are a team that seeks to support our institute and the development sector in ensuring that research is communicated effectively.

We believe that good research informs decision makers in how they might use limited resources most effectively, and our desire is to see decision makers using multiple sources of information to make informed decisions.

In this complex arena of policy and practice, we are particularly interested in how communication of research brings about change.

We distinguish between Research Communication and the Intermediary sector:

Research Communication is in simple terms, where researchers (either directly or through mediators or technology) present their findings and research to the decision maker. The researcher has a desired outcome that the research is considered by the decision maker as part of their decision process.

For the ‘intermediary sector', the desired outcome is more than the sum of individual research. It is that the decision maker will consider multiple sources of information during their decision process. Intermediaries are not focused on ensuring one or more pieces of research ‘reach' the decision maker. They are concerned that the information seeking behaviour of decision makers includes multiple sources of information (see "How research brokers and intermediaries support evidence-based pro-poor policy and practice" for more discussion of this).

These ideas and nuanced differences between research communication and intermediary work, and their roles in decision making, need exploring.

What do we already know about information-seeking behaviour?

There is a considerable body of work on information seeking behaviour.

Consider the diagram inspired by Wilson's "Universe of Knowledge":

In discussing the model TD Wilson (Theories of information behavior, edited by K. Fisher, S. Erdelez and L. McKechnie and published by Information Today in 2005) describes it as follows:-

"The figure suggests a three-fold view of information seeking: the context of the seeker, the 'system' employed (which might be manual or machine and navigated either personally or by an intermediary), and the information resources that might be drawn upon. All of this is shown to exist within a 'universe of knowledge' that might be drawn upon directly by the information seeker or the intermediary, through, for example, persons as embodiments of knowledge. Note that 'technology' was interpreted widely, in the general sense of anything that aids action: at the time, the application of information technology to information seeking was in its infancy, and neither the personal computer nor the World Wide Web existed." (Ed Emphasis)

Supply and demand of information resources

Intermediary work has so often been conceived as expanding the supply of information resources. We believe that it is much more than this.

We are using action research to test our assumptions, and explore questions which can be broadly grouped under three themes:

• Building understanding of the contribution of knowledge intermediaries to the Research Policy and Practice Praxis (RPP).
• Strengthening the ability of knowledge intermediaries to operate effectively
• Supporting collaboration between knowledge intermediaries

Building an understanding of the contribution of knowledge intermediaries to the Research Policy and Practice ecosystem

Under this theme, we are asking ourselves (and our partners) questions around: 

• Is the information ecosystem of research/policy space significantly changing due to ICT/other changes (e.g. Open Data, donor pressure, etc.)?
• What are the characteristics of Research Communications and intermediaries, where are the overlaps and differences, and how do intended outcomes differ?
• Is the intermediary sector comparable with other development sectors?

Strengthening the ability of knowledge intermediaries to operate effectively

Under this theme, we are asking ourselves (and our partners) questions around: 

• What does effective intermediary work look like, and can we use principles and practices from outcome orientation to support this ‘effectiveness'? 
• What capacities do intermediaries need to operate effectively - taught, acquired, external roles?
• Are there new models of sustainability? What can we learn from private sector?
• Are some types of intermediary ‘action' (behaviours/responsibilities) more effective than others?
• What are the communication activities intermediaries can use to be effective?
• What is the role of convening in intermediary work? As opposed to product centric approaches.
• Can we get our learning to the right people at the right time in the right place?

Supporting collaboration between knowledge intermediaries

Under this theme, we are asking ourselves (and our partners) questions around:

• If intermediaries are more outcome oriented will they reach more effectively the right people at the right time with the right information - at the right cost (value of money).

Our body of work around these questions is fluid and evolving. We are finding opportunities across our own institute and with partners and networks. We see this as an action research programme of work, using each piece of the puzzle to shape the overall direction and inform our next steps. See Projects for more.