The Dissemination and Utilization Process and Employment Research Vol.3, No. 4

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The Dissemination and Utilization Process and Employment Research

The NCDDR has previously presented a model for illustrating the key elements of dissemination and knowledge utilization (Westbrook & Boethel, 1996; Westbrook, 1998). The new employment-focused RRTCs' dissemination activities and products, described in their proposals, are discussed in relation to this model.

Source

The new employment-focused RRTCs and their organizations have extensive experience in providing high quality research and/or services in the employment of people with disabilities. They are increasing their credibility through collaboration with other RRTCs, universities, business organizations, and private sector research organizations such as the Lewin Group. Their previous efforts have added considerable new knowledge to the field in such areas as customer-driven supported employment, accessing Social Security Work Incentives, community job development strategies, and employment models for community rehabilitation programs (CRPs).

Figure 1. Relationship of Key Elements of Dissemination Leading to Knowledge Utilization (Westbrook, 1998, p.14).

Content

The new employment-focused RRTCs will be developing a variety of content intended to support new legislation, support new Federal and State policies, influence service designs, and promote the employment of people with disabilities. Their dissemination plans include systematic attempts to design research content for specific applications and audiences with the objective of achieving utility and relevance to the informational needs of a variety of stakeholders.

Medium

The new employment-focused RRTCs will be presenting their research information using a variety of media including:

Brochures, newsletters, and brief reports. The widespread mailing of these publications introduces stakeholders to the new employment-focused RRTCs by emphasizing research needs, activities, and results. They may also provide ongoing information about research and training events, with commentary about issues and similar research/training. One Center will be providing policy notes on data that follows ongoing improvements in the employment status of a group of adults with disabilities.
Popular, professional, and disability media. Several of the new employment-focused RRTCs will submit information to popular print media for distribution to the general public. RRTCs will frequently provide information for inclusion in the newsletters of professional organizations. One Center will be highlighted on the national radio talk show "On a Roll" (Smith, 1998). Also, RRTCs will submit research information to a variety of disability publications and information resources such as disability Web Sites, agency publications, and inter-agency correspondence. Submissions to popular print and electronic media, and to major disability publications such as We, En•a'ble, Ability, New Mobility, and Ragged Edge magazines, should elicit the interest of the editor and achieve the perception of immediate relevance to readers. Although such media may present disability research (especially medical research) as stand-alone articles, they are more likely to include research information to support points within human interest-oriented stories. RRTC staff may find themselves working with journalists seeking to clarify key points about research information for their articles or stories.
Refereed journals, monographs, books. Articles in professional journals will provide supporting information for stakeholders as they improve employment policies, services, and practices. Of interest is the extent to which RRTCs submit research information to nondisability publications focusing on business areas, public policy, labor economics, human resources, and labor statistics. The new employment-focused RRTCs will independently publish monographs to present their research activities and results. These will be distributed via surface mail, and through text and downloads on the RRTCs' Web Sites. Easy, free access to complete research information in the monographs will serve as a means of getting timely information to other researchers and stakeholders. Several of the new employment-focused RRTCs will be developing books about their research topic. If such texts are presented on multiple levels, or perhaps with interpretive guides, both academic and non-academic readers will use the information in improving employment policy, services, and practices.
Topical conferences. Each of the new employment-focused RRTCs will sponsor one or more conferences on their particular research topic to bring together top researchers and stakeholders to share research information.
Electronic information. The new employment-focused RRTCs are using Internet technology to promote their efforts and share information. RRTCs are making extensive improvements to their Web sites, offering brief reports, articles, monographs, etc. in text and downloads. Some of the Web sites will provide message boards, chat rooms, listservs, and other interactive functions. These developments provide opportunities for stakeholders to immediately access research information, including data and databases, via electronic media.

User

The new employment-focused RRTCs have identified a variety of potential users of research information among stakeholders. For some of these groups and individuals the employment of people with disabilities continues to be a controversial issue (Wehman & West, 1996). To address the varying "readiness to change" (Westbrook & Boethel, 1996) of stakeholders the RRTCs will provide research information in a variety of media and will tailor its content to the informational needs of specific stakeholders. Much of this targeted information will include the context for its use, such as research conducted with CRPs, where the information fits the needs of stakeholders at similar CRPs.

Context

The new employment-focused RRTCs are addressing differing knowledge, values, and environmental contexts by partnering with a variety of stakeholders in research development, implementation, and dissemination. Successful utilization of their research information depends upon the RRTCs providing targeted and freely accessible research information that responds to competing priorities, such as waiting lists for day services; conflicting knowledge and practices in traditional or disability specific programs; the social, political, and economic climates of stakeholders; and stakeholder skills in understanding and applying the research information with varying settings and individuals. The new employment-focused RRTCs will respond to contextual factors through coordinated research efforts that:

collaboration among the RRTCs, NIDRR funded programs, other researchers, and stakeholders;
Work closely with Federal, State, and community policy makers, and funding sources, in developing new employment policies and funding strategies, particularly outcome-based funding;
Address a full range of issues such as consumer choice in programs and employment, health benefits, and conflicting purposes of programs funded by Federal, State, and local sources; and
Utilize a variety of dissemination media and content designed to reach specific stakeholders. Research information will have a strong relationship to current issues/needs in the field. This information will be freely accessible through electronic and print media, and through interactions between RRTC staff and stakeholders.

A Look to the Future

The new employment-focused RRTCs will conduct their research within a multifaceted Federal initiative to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities. It is unlikely that individual components of this initiative can adequately approach this goal by working in isolation. By providing a variety of freely accessible media and content tailored to the preferences of specific stakeholders, and relevant to their needs, the RRTCs will serve a valued role in providing coordinated research information across all components of the initiative. The open exchange of research information, including data and databases, is vital to information-sharing and collaboration among the new employment-focused RRTCs and other researchers. Research programs have unique opportunities to use current and emerging electronic and traditional media to provide stakeholders with timely research information. Thus, free and easy access to such information should be viewed by all researchers as a valuable dissemination tool to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

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