Seven ways to link research knowledge to action

What helps to close gaps between knowledge and action? What helps take research knowledge beyond the realm of ‘knowledge for knowledge sake’ and convert it to changes in behaviour, practices, policies, institutions and uptake of new technologies?

A new paper by Patti Kristjanson and colleagues at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) presents seven principles that might help us institutionalize and scale out what works best.

The paper argues that "researchers have traditionally focused on research outputs–articles, methods, technologies, trainings–rather than research outcomes. But it is by jointly defining with project partners the desired outcomes of a project–including changed behaviors, policies, and practices–that links between knowledge and action can be discerned and strengthened."

The full article is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Late last year, Patti introduced the Innovation Works initiative at ILRI:

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See also her video commenting on the role of communication in agricultural innovation processes.