Sharing your research insights
Good research deserves to be shared.
Too often, powerful knowledge sits untouched - especially when it’s hard to absorb in a busy workday.
I was surprised to learn recently that ‘as many as 50% of [research] papers are not read by anyone other than the authors, referees, and journal editors’ (1).
Earlier this year, I worked with Auckland Council and Te Aho Toi to bring insights from a rich internal report to a wider audience of time-poor staff.
It covered two complex topics: disabilities and climate change.
Instead of starting from scratch, we focused on what was already known.
There was so much valuable insight - the challenge was just how to make it more digestible. These are the key steps we went through. In reality, the process was far messier, collaborative, and iterative than it looks here.
For your own work, consider building on what already exists:
Before asking communities the same questions yet again, what knowledge might already exist that you could help share?
(1) Educational researchers Henriksen & Mishra (2019)
Start by spotting key themes; challenges, opportunities, or tensions.
Try different formats and layouts to communicate clearly
Test drafts with your audience to understand what resonates + what’s missing
Work with creatives; bring insights to life via video, poetry, photography, illustration
Iterate, refine and share to spark new kōrero and ideas
Want some help to make sense of what you already have? See my ‘Leverage what you have’ package, or get in touch.
