Differences in How Evaluators and Researchers Approach Partnerships With Practitioners

• In Event: Effective Evaluation Policies and Partnerships to Foster Evidence Use

Abstract

Research-practice partnerships have become increasingly popular for promoting evidence use, and this is similar to how evaluators partner with practitioners. Researchers and evaluators working in partnership with practitioners participated in a survey measuring evidence use, research rigor and relevance, and interpersonal factors (e.g., relationship quality, communication, stakeholder involvement). Results demonstrated that participants reported similar levels of evidence use, rigor, and relevance, but evaluators reported higher interpersonal factors. However, correlation differences suggest that relationships and communication are more strongly related to evidence use for researchers whereas relevance and stakeholder involvement are more strongly related to evidence use for evaluators. This study suggests that researchers and evaluators partner with practitioners differently but reach similar outcomes of evidence use.

Authors

• Dana Linnell Wanzer, University of Wisconsin-Stout

• Tiffany Dawn Berry, Claremont Graduate University