ReSDA Questionnaire on Knowledge Sharing and Communication
The Resources and Sustainable Development in the Arctic (ReSDA) network brings together a broad range of disciplines and organizations representing universities, colleges, communities, government, the private sector and non-profits in northern Canada and other Circumpolar countries. ReSDA will examine ways to ensure that a larger share of the benefits of resource development stay in the region with fewer costs to communities.
ReSDA is currently developing a communications strategy in order to better serve both communities and researchers, and would like your input. This survey asks 10 questions on knowledge- and information-sharing and should take no more than 10 minutes. Your contribution will help the ReSDA team develop and implement a core set of communication tools. We appreciate your time and feedback!
In this survey, we are exploring how information is communicated between communities and researchers. There are many different terms describing this process, including knowledge translation, knowledge exchange, knowledge sharing, diffusion, dissemination, etc. From the review of the terminology the ReSDA network is using the term “knowledge mobilization," which is when researchers and communities (and governments, industries and others who are involved) not only receive, contribute to and understand the research information that's created, but put it into action, "mobilizing" it. Knowledge mobilization is the bridge that turns "knowing" into "doing."
All responses are anonymous.
1. Please indicate your affiliation (required)
□ Community
□ Academia
□ Industry
□ Government
□ Other (please specify): ______
2. What term do you think is best to explain the process of sharing and exchanging research knowledge and information between researchers and communities?
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□ Knowledge mobilization
□ Knowledge translation
□ Knowledge exchange
□ Knowledge sharing
□ Communication
□ Dissemination
□ Diffusion
□ Other (please specify): ______
□ Doesn’t matter / Don’t know
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3. How often should research information be communicated to communities?
□ Always: whenever it becomes available
□ When it impacts the community
□ When the community asks for it
□ Before the researcher publishes the results
□ After the researcher publishes the results
□ Don’t know
□ Other (please specify): ______
4. How often do you think research information is actually communicated to communities?
□ Always: whenever it becomes available
□ When it impacts the community
□ When the community asks for it
□ Before the researcher publishes the results
□ After the researcher publishes the results
□ Don’t know
□ Other (please specify): ______
5. Please indicate which groups you feel are easy to communicate with. Please answer according to your affiliation (community member, researcher, government, industry, etc.)
In the comments section please indicate what you think helps make these groups easy to communicate with.
Easy to communicate with: / I am a community member / I am a researcher / I am a government representative / I am in industryCommunities / □ / □ / □ / □
Researchers / □ / □ / □ / □
Government / □ / □ / □ / □
Industry / □ / □ / □ / □
What makes it easier to communicate with these groups?
6. Please indicate which groups you feel it is difficult to community with. Please answer according to your affiliation (community member, researcher, policymaker, industry).
In the comments section please describe any barriers that you feel make it harder to communicate with the groups you indicated.
Hard to communicate with: / I am a community member / I am a researcher / I am a government representative / I am in industryCommunities / □ / □ / □ / □
Researchers / □ / □ / □ / □
Government / □ / □ / □ / □
Industry / □ / □ / □ / □
What are the barriers? What makes it harder?
7. Please rank the effectiveness of each of the following knowledge sharing methods
Method: / Not effective / Somewhat ineffective / Neutral / don’t know / Somewhat effective / Very effectiveVideo / □ / □ / □ / □ / □
Photos, posters, visuals / □ / □ / □ / □ / □
Radio / □ / □ / □ / □ / □
Newsletters / □ / □ / □ / □ / □
Academic journals & articles / □ / □ / □ / □ / □
Community meetings / □ / □ / □ / □ / □
Workshops, conferences / □ / □ / □ / □ / □
Knowledge brokering (middle-person between researchers and community) / □ / □ / □ / □ / □
Online media, blogs, websites / □ / □ / □ / □ / □
Stories / □ / □ / □ / □ / □
Success stories / □ / □ / □ / □ / □
Elders and community leaders / □ / □ / □ / □ / □
8. What other methods do you think help or might prevent sharing information?
9. What tools do you think might enable researchers and communities to share information more effectively?
10. Any additional comments, questions, or feedback?
11. Please provide your contact information if you would be willing to provide further feedback on knowledge mobilization strategies or would like to receive a copy of the ReSDA communications strategy.
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