Reflections on Research Communication, Dissemination and Uptake to Impact Outreach

Abstract

Background: Disseminating research findings remain a central issue as far as operations research is concerned.   Objective: This study sheds light on experiences; observed patterns and identified limitations with research outreach and the challenges associated with the approach, mediums and expected impacts they are to yield. Methods: The study is informed by the researcher’s reflection on three research disseminations and communications conducted. Using an observatory and phenomenological design approaches, the experiential accounts and processes bordering on scientific research outreach are described and analyzed on thematic basis. Findings: In carrying out research outreach, it was identified that presentation of study findings were done when the target audience were mostly distanced from the study findings. This constitutes a challenge for the use of research findings. Except for the findings in rural Ethiopia where the results were communicated to the target audience in the Youth in Action programme, the other two studies reported in Ghana concerned itself with reaching mostly to the academic community with policy makers absent. Recommendation: Addressing and identifying the best way possible to communicate and ensure uptake of research findings remain imperative in regard to operation research. This causes research to remain useful to the people for whom and by whom research is being conducted.