A Handbook of Data Collection Tools: Companion to "A Guide to Measuring Advocacy and Policy"

This handbook of data collection tools is intended to serve as a companion to A Guide to Measuring Advocacy and Policy. Organizational Research Services (ORS) developed this guide on behalf of the Annie E. Casey Foundation to support efforts to develop and implement an evaluation of advocacy and policy work. The companion handbook is dedicated to providing examples of practical tools and processes for collecting useful information from policy and advocacy efforts. Included within this handbook are a legislative process tracking log, a meeting observation checklist, a policy brief stakeholder survey, a policy tracking analysis tool, and a policy tracking form.This best practice provides an approach to measure advocacy and policy change efforts, starting with a theory of change, identifying outcome categories, and selecting practical approaches to measurement

Assessing the role of the research in the transition to organic farming by using the Actor Network Theory: lessons from two case studies in France and Bulgaria

This paper explores the potential of Actor Network Theory (ANT) in understanding how the process of interaction and translation between human and non-human actors contribute to the development, adoption and diffusion of science-based innovations linked to the transition to organic farming. The study relies on two case studies, the French Camargue case covering a range of technical and social innovations, and the case from Bulgaria focusing on the development of a technical and product innovation, i.e. a veterinary product for organic beekeeping. The paper shows the limitations of classical approaches in studying innovations since they underestimate the role of heterogeneous actors, their status, and how they interact with each other. We argue that focusing on actors’ interactions helps to better understand the so-called “uncertainties” and “turning points” in the innovation development, as well as to interpret them as natural elements. Moreover we argue that challenges to tackle should be problematized to increase the success of research programs. We also stress the importance of opinion leaders during the implementation and diffusion phase of the innovation

Building the System: Follow-up, monitoring & adaptive management

Does impact assessment (IA) end when the license has been granted? While societal resources tend to focus on rigorous project approvals, what happens to the project, to the public and to the environment once approval is granted? Follow up and monitoring are often an afterthought for legislators, public servants and proponents. But they are critical to public confidence and to ensuring that proponents live up to their commitments in a rapidly changing world."This report draws from research funded by the Impact Assessment Agency as part of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Knowledge Mobilization Grant on Informing Best Practice in Environmental and Impact Assessment.

A utilidade do conhecimento: Da relevância social á mobilização do conhecimento

En los últimos años ha emergido un vocabulario más sofisticado en el campo de la educación superior. Categorías como investigación socialmente relevante; movilización del conocimiento; impacto de la investigación; innovación; han aparecido en las prioridades fijadas para la universidad. A primera vista, estos términos pueden parecer neutrales, simples y libres de conflictos de intereses. Sin embargo, se argumenta aquí que cada uno de ellos requiere un análisis más profundo, especialmente en relación con las políticas públicas científicas y universitarias actuales, ya que su uso tiene consecuencias e/o impactos tanto a nivel institucional (instituciones de educación superior) como en los agentes (académicos, directores de proyectos, etc.). Por lo tanto, al arrojar luz sobre el hecho de que la “relevancia social” de la universidad es una categoría comúnmente abordada en los documentos que regulan la actividad universitaria, se afirma que tales categorías indican un concepto reduccionista de “relevancia” que es utilizado como un sustituto del sentido, la misión y los objetivos de la universidad. Con el fin de identificar y analizar estos nuevos términos y categorías utilizados como medidas de conocimiento académico, este trabajo se centra en los sistemas universitarios públicos en Argentina y Canadá. Desde una perspectiva comparativa, se pretende obtener una mejor comprensión de los cambios en la movilización del conocimiento.In recent years, a more sophisticated vocabulary has emerged in the field of higher education. Categories such as socially relevant research; knowledge mobilization; research impact; innovation; and university priorities have appeared. At first glance, these words may appear neutral, simple and free from conflicts of interest. However, I argue that each of them requires deeper analysis, especially in relation to current scientific and university public policies, as their use has consequences and/or impacts both at the institutional level (higher education institutions) and actor-level (scholars, project managers, etc.). Therefore, by shedding light on the fact that “social relevance” of university is a commonly addressed category in documents regulating university activities, I postulate that such categories indicate a reductionist notion of “relevance” that is used haphazardly as a substitute for the ideas of meaning, mission, and the aims of a university. In order to pinpoint and discuss these new terms and categories that are used as measures of academic knowledge, the paper focuses on public university systems in Argentina and Canada. From a comparative perspective, I aim at grasping a better understanding of the changes in knowledge mobilization.Nos últimos anos, surgiu um vocabulário mais sofisticado em matéria de ensino superior. Categorias e investigação socialmente relevantes; mobilização do conhecimento; impacto da investigação; inovação; têm aparecido sobre as prioridades para a universidade. À primeira vista, esses termos podem parecer neutro, simples e livre de conflitos de interesse. No entanto, argumenta-se aqui que cada um deles exige uma mais profunda, especialmente no que diz respeito à análise de políticas públicas científica e universitária atual, porque seu uso tem conseqüências e/ou impactos a nível institucional (instituições de ensino superior), como os agentes (acadêmicos, gestores de projecto, etc.) Portanto, para lançar luz sobre o fato de que a "relevância social" da universidade é uma categoria comumente abordados nos documentos que regem a actividade da universidade, afirma que tais categorias indicam um conceito reducionista de "relevância" é usado como um substituto para o sentido, a missão e os objetivos da universidade. A fim de identificar e analisar esses novos termos e categorias utilizadas como medidas de conhecimento acadêmico, este trabalho concentra-se em sistemas universitários públicos na Argentina e no Canadá. A partir de uma perspectiva comparativa , é obter uma melhor compreensão das mudanças na mobilização do conhecimento.Fil: Naidorf, Clara Judith. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Instituto de Ciencias de la Educación; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Many Hands, More Impact: Philanthropy's Role in Supporting Movements

GEO has prepared a publication that provides a framework for understanding the array of roles that funders can play in supporting movements and networks. Many Hands, More Impact: Philanthropy's Role in Supporting Movements offers an orientation to some of the inherent benefits and barriers to supporting movements and provides insight into ways that grantmakers can explore collaborative efforts for social change

ILR Research in Progress 2013-14

The production of scholarly research continues to be one of the primary missions of the ILR School. During a typical academic year, ILR faculty members published or had accepted for publication over 25 books, edited volumes, and monographs, 170 articles and chapters in edited volumes, numerous book reviews. In addition, a large number of manuscripts were submitted for publication, presented at professional association meetings, or circulated in working paper form. Our faculty's research continues to find its way into the very best industrial relations, social science and statistics journals.Research_in_Progress_2013_14.pdf: 54 downloads, before Oct. 1, 2020