Published
Oct 15, 2021Page count
212 pagesISBN
978-1447361152Dimensions
216 x 138 mmImprint
Policy PressPublished
Oct 15, 2021Page count
212 pagesISBN
978-1447361176Imprint
Policy Press
Making Research Matter
In the media
'PODCAST: How can you make your research matter?' on Transforming Society
'Freeing up the mind – or the paper' on Transforming Society
EPDF and EPUB available Open Access under CC-BY-NC-ND licence.
Written by a leading expert in the field, this practical and accessible book is an essential guide to knowledge exchange, impact and research dissemination in health and social care.
Providing the why, what, who, how and when of research impact, the book helps researchers turn raw findings into useful, high-impact evidence for policymakers, practitioners and the public. It includes insightful interviews from leading journalists, science communicators, researchers and influencers in health and social care, as well as practical exercises, insider tips and case studies. The book will help researchers at all stages of their career to maximise the impact of their work.
"Lamont’s arguments for increased communication and interaction between researchers, policy makers, and lay people describes an ideal culture of collaboration, support for necessary reform and openness to change.” Technical Communication
“A must-read for health and care researchers at every level or stage in their career, if they really want to make a difference to patients and service users.” Kieran Walshe, University of Manchester
“A wonderful, wise and highly actionable resource to help researchers ensure their research makes a difference.” Mary Dixon-Woods, The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute, University of Cambridge
“A book that considers research impact in the real world, providing practical guidance on why it matters and how to make it happen.” Kamal R. Mahtani, University of Oxford
Tara Lamont is Senior Scientific Adviser at the Wessex Institute, University of Southampton, supporting NIHR research programmes. She previously led work at a national evidence centre for health and social care.
Introducing this book
WHY researchers should spend time on this
WHAT counts as evidence
WHO you want to reach – practitioners
WHO you want to reach – patients, public, service users
WHO you want to reach – policymakers and managers
WHEN you could have most impact
HOW to reach people – use of stories and the media
HOW to reach people – finding the right language and style
Last thoughts
