Evaluation

A strategic approach for evaluating public engagement with research

Gareth Davies • July 24, 2014

Photograph of Gareth Davies — Gareth Davies, The Open University

Before I joined the OU, my background was in risk-based decision-making. I looked forward to finding innovative ways of gathering evidence of the impact of public engagement with research (PER). However, it seemed like whenever PER was mentioned evaluation would either become the pink elephant in the room or be quickly forgotten, and the conversation would focus on public engagement as opposed to public engagement with research.

In my experience, this doesn’t arise from ill intent but rather from a lack of understanding about the affordances of different PER activities and the methods and techniques used to evaluate the impact of PER.

This seminar was an opportunity to test a theoretical framework that I believe has the capacity to address this issue.
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Evaluating the impact of engaged research on practitioners • 1 Comment

Emma Rothero • July 10, 2014

The Floodplain Meadows Partnership is a research project based on key academic work carried out at the Open University by Professor David Gowing and others on the response of species-rich floodplain meadows to changes in management, particularly hydrological changes. The partnership recently received an Evidencing Engaged Research seed funding award to look at the impact that advice from the project has had on site managers and sites across the UK.
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Evaluating ways of capturing engagement processes

Gill Clough • June 16, 2014

Photograph of Gill Clough — Gill Clough, The Open University

Project Team: Gill Clough, Eliz Hartnett, Andrew Brasher, Canan Blake, Anne Adams

We are really excited to have been selected for seed funding from the Evidencing Engaged Research call. This project builds on and extends the work we are doing on the JuxtaLearn Project which aims to engage students with science and technology through creative video performance (see our earlier post).

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Assessing seed funding applications

Trevor Collins • March 19, 2014

Dr Richard Holliman, Chair of the Review Panel

Evidencing Engaged Research: The closing date for applications has passed and we are not accepting further applications.

The Assessment Panel is reviewing the applications and will contact the applicants in due course.

Contact
Dr Richard Holliman, Chair of the Review Panel.
Fiona McKerlie, Secretary to the Review Panel.

Purpose of this call: To support active researchers in the generation and systematic collection of evidence of the impacts from engaged research, demonstrating effects, changes and/or mutual benefits to those participating.