Improving Evidence Use: The Importance of Relationship Quality in Research-Practice Partnerships

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: Research to Practice: An Evidence Perspective

Abstract

At the heart of research-practice partnerships (RPPs) is the importance of relationships and other interpersonal factors among researchers and practitioners; however, the quality of the interpersonal interactions among partners—and their influences on evidence use—has not been fully examined. Members of RPPs participated in a survey measuring evidence use (i.e., instrumental, conceptual, and process use), interpersonal factors (e.g.., relationship quality, communication), and research factors (i.e., rigor, relevance). Results demonstrated that interpersonal factors were important explanatory variables of evidence use above and beyond rigor but was equally important compared to research relevance. This study contributes to the literature on factors that promote evidence use in RPPs and provides evidence of the importance of interpersonal factors.

Authors

• Dana Linnell Wanzer, University of Wisconsin-Stout

• Tiffany Dawn Berry, Claremont Graduate University