Towards an inclusive knowledge base for community-based research and sustainable knowledge production

Abstract

The need for community-based research and knowledge development in municipalities is an unexplored area. This article explores the experiences and views on knowledge production based on a case study in a small municipality. It poses the question of what is relevant knowledge within social work practice framing it from a multi-actor perspective. We argue that by using an inclusive approach ensuring the views and experiences of different professionals, it may facilitate the development of a knowledge-based practice. The data material consists of focal municipality documents and semi-structured interviews with leading actors. These stakeholders represent different domains of practice within social work and the social welfare services and have different positions within the municipality. A conceptual framework of knowledge is used as a theoretical and analytical approach in the study. The results show that this approach serves as a starting point for mapping current interests and needs for knowledge development in the municipality and ensures the different voices of the professionals. The results also highlight the multiple sources of knowledge for developing a knowledge-based practice. We argue that organisational, practitioner, user, policy and research knowledge are all valid sources and must be taken into account in knowledge development processes to be able to contribute to the development of practices and policies. Multiple sources of knowledge can, together with collaborative learning, create a more sensitive and research-informed practice. Furthermore, long-lasting actor–researcher relationships between the university and the municipalities may offer a set of strategies for building a sustainable research collaboration.

Keywords:

• knowledge production
• knowledge-based practice
• university–community collaboration
• practice research
• social work