Practice Literate Research: Turning the Tables

Researchers complain how difficult it is to get practitioners and policymakers to use research. In contrast, this paper looks at the issues from the perspective of practice, and argues that it is the researcher’s job to become more practice-literate, so that research begins with practice concerns and develops practice-based solutions. The paper explores the relationship between research and practice and suggests that research has insufficiently engaged with the nature of practice and practice knowledge. Using the Salisbury Statement on practice research (Salisbury Statement 2010) the paper offers a definition of practice research and analyses what would be required for an agenda for practice research. Finally the paper proposes five functions for practice research.

Partnership in Practice Research: a Norwegian Experience

This article outlines some of the issues involved in developing partnerships between service users, practitioners and researchers. It discusses these through some experience in Oslo as part of a national level agreement (HUSK) to improve social services in Norway through research and knowledge development. It begins with a review of the main concepts and debates involved in developing collaborative partnerships for practice-based research, particularly in the social services arena. The HUSK program is then described. The article then traces some specific developments and challenges in negotiating partnership relations as discussed by program participants (users, practitioners and researchers) in a series of workshops designed to elicit the issues directly from their experience.