Collaborative research and development: a typology of linkages between researchers and practitioners

ABSTRACT

Emerging discussions about research-practice collaboration in social work have sought to explore why collaboration and engagement are important. However, knowledge about how these collaborations unfold remains limited. The present study explored 17 collaborative research and development projects involving social work researchers and practitioners in the German speaking area (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). It aimed to capture the complexity of these collaborative projects by examining and describing the various forms that linkages between research and practice can take in social work. Data collection comprised document analysis and semi-structured interviews with researchers and practitioners involved in the projects considered. Data were analysed using open coding technique and the constant comparative method to identify emerging concepts and broader categories. This analysis enabled identification of five types of collaborative projects: Collaboration for i) scientific knowledge production; ii) the development of new procedures; iii) development of service organisations, professional practice and practitioners; iv) implementation of a specific practice; and v) support of political decision-making. Findings suggest that collaboration is influenced by the specific social welfare regime, cultural issues, as well as the configuration of, and dynamics between them in the projects.

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG

Angesichts des vielfach konstatierten Theorie-Praxis-Gaps in der Sozialen Arbeit wird seit längerer Zeit die Kooperation zwischen Wissenschaft und Praxis als Schlüsselkonzept zur Überwindung ebendieses Gaps gehandelt. Allerdings gibt es kaum empirische Erkenntnisse dazu, wie eine solche Kooperation tatsächlich abläuft, d.h. zu welchem Zweck und mit welchem Inhalt zusammengearbeitet wird, wer dabei welche Rollen übernimmt, wer welches Wissen einbringt etc. Die vorliegende Studie untersuchte 17 kooperative Forschungs- und Entwicklungsprojekte im deutschsprachigen Raum (Deutschland, Österreich, Schweiz), um deren Komplexität abzubilden und die verschiedenen Formen der Kooperation zwischen Wissenschaft und Praxis zu beschreiben. Der Datenkorpus umfasste Dokumente sowie semi-strukturierte Interviews mit Forschenden und Praktiker*innen aus den untersuchten Projekten. Analysiert wurde entsprechend der Grounded Theory Methodologie durch offenes kodieren und fortwährendes Vergleichen, um aus den Daten Konzepte sowie übergreifende Kategorien zu entwickeln. Es konnten fünf verschiedene Typen von kooperativen Projekten identifiziert werden: i) Kooperation zwecks Erkenntnis; ii) Kooperation zwecks Verfahrensentwicklung; iii) Kooperation zwecks Weiterentwicklung der Organisation; iv) Kooperation zwecks Praxisgestaltung; und v) Kooperation zwecks politischer Entscheidungsfindung. Als Einflussgrössen in allen Kooperationsformen erwiesen sich die länderspezifischen Wohlfahrtsregime, kulturelle Aspekte sowie soziale Dynamiken zwischen den Beteiligten in den konkreten Projekten.

KEYWORDS:

• Collaboration
• collaborative projects
• research and development
• practitioners
• researchers
• linkages between research and practice
• typology
• qualitative methods

SCHLAGWÖRTER:

• Kooperation
• kooperative Wissensbildung
• Wissenschaft-Praxis-Kooperation
• Forschungskooperation
• Verbindung von Wissenschaft und Praxis
• Typologie

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung: [Grant Number 100017_134601].

Notes on contributors

Daniel Gredig

Daniel Gredig (PhD) is a trained social worker and professor at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland. Part of his work focuses on collaborative research-based intervention development and social innovation.

Milena Heinsch

Milena Heinsch (PhD) is an accredited social worker and Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Brain and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Australia. The distinct contribution of her work lies in synthesising and applying a wide conceptual and theoretical framework to interrogate and better understand the relationship between research and practice.

Pascal Amez-Droz

Pascal Amez-Droz (MA) is a trained social worker and works as a teacher and researcher at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland. A part of his work focuses on the transfer of knowledge between science and practice.

Matthias Hüttemann

Matthias Hüttemann (PhD) is professor for Social Work at the Institute for Social Work and Health at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland. His research focuses on clinical social work, innovation in social work and cooperation between researchers and practitioners.

Fabienne Rotzetter

Fabienne Rotzetter (MA) is a research associate at the Institute for the Study and Development of Social Work as a Profession at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland. Her research and lecturing focusses on the conditions of professional social work, including the relationship between research and practice.

Peter Sommerfeld

Peter Sommerfeld (Dr. rer soc.) is professor for Social Work at the Institute for Social Work and Health at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland. His conceptual and theoretical work on Social Work Science includes contributions to the relation of science and practice and cooperative knowledge production.