Scottish Government

Dr Cathy Sharp, Research for Real
ISBN 0 7559 2730 3
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CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background to the study
Evidence based policy making and practice in the NHSS
Aims and objectives of this research
Research methods
Structure of this report

CHAPTER TWO: KEY ISSUES IN ACTION RESEARCH FOR THE NHSS AND THE WIDER PUBLIC SECTOR
What is action research?

CHAPTER THREE: USING EVIDENCE IN PRACTICE
What do we know about moving evidence into practice?
What kind of evidence is available?
Learning from patients and staff
Building capacity for using evidence in the NHSS
Making space for learning and reflection
Changing behaviours

CHAPTER FOUR: THE POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY AND OTHERS
Facilitation as knowledge brokerage
Facilitation as supporting learning
Developing collaboration with academics and other external facilitators
Valuing user perspectives

CHAPTER FIVE: OPPORTUNITIES AND BARRIERS
Creating communities of inquiry within communities of practice

CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSIONS: SUPPORTING EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE THROUGH ACTION RESEARCH AND APPLIED RESEARCH
Using evidence in practice: an overview
Is action research happening in the NHSS?
Key issues for future collaboration
The improvement of public sector delivery
Conclusions

Annex 1: List Of Respondents
Annex 2: Case Study 1: The Use Of Cooperative Inquiry Amongst Diabetic Service Users
Annex 3: Case Study 2: Action Inquiry: Combining Evidence From Literature, Practitioner Wisdom And Service User Perspectives
Annex 4: Case Study 3: Using Action Learning To Promote Quality End Of Life Care In Nursing Homes
Annex 5: Case Study 4: Senior Management Development Across Sectors Using Action Learning
Annex 6: Case Study 5: Building Capacity To Facilitate The Use Of Data In Practice Settings
Annex 7: Case Study 6: Using Collaboratives To Build Capacity To Use Information For The Improvement Of Practice
Annex 8: Case Study 7: Localising Service Improvement: Using Appreciative Inquiry To Evaluate The Cancer Services Collaborative Improvement Partnership
Annex 9: Case Study 8: Working Whole Systems: Generating New Conversations For Change - Going Home From Hospital
Annex 10: Suggested Reading And Web Resources

The views expressed in this report are those of the researcher and
do not necessarily represent those of the Department or Scottish Ministers.