scholarly journals Engaging Knowledge Users with Mental Health Experience in a Mixed-Methods Systematic Review of Post-secondary Students with Psychosis: Reflections and Lessons Learned from a Master’s Thesis

Author(s):  
Victoria Sanderson ◽  
Amanda Vandyk ◽  
Jean Daniel Jacob ◽  
Ian D. Graham

Engaging knowledge users (KUs) as research team members throughout the research process helps generate relevant knowledge and may improve uptake of research results. The purpose of this article is to describe how an integrated knowledge translation (iKT) approach was embedded within a master’s thesis project comprising a mixed-methods systematic review. KUs were engaged in four distinct phases of the systematic review process, including (1) proposal development; (2) development of the research question and approach; (3) creation of an advisory panel; and (4) an end of study meeting to interpret findings and plan dissemination of findings. The extent of each KU’s engagement on the research team fluctuated during the study. Challenges included maintaining the same KUs throughout the project and maintaining the scope of the project to align with a master’s thesis. Our suggestions for optimizing graduate student iKT projects include having regular team meetings and periodically checking in with team members to encourage reflection on overall engagement and progress of the project. Overall, KUs helped create a research project designed to address their needs and provided input on how results might translate into implications for clinical practice, education, academic policy, and future research within their respective contexts.

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 250-265
Author(s):  
Deirdre Corby ◽  
Mary Rose Sweeney

Researchers are challenged to provide opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities (IDs) and their families to become participants in research. This article explores the processes and procedures involved in conducting a mixed-methods study. The preparation for the study is described and explained. Recruitment is examined by describing the process and analysing phone calls made to potential participants. Reflections of research team members help to develop the analysis and contribute to a discussion of the fieldwork. Lessons learned show that research projects involving people with IDs and their families need careful planning and have additional costs. The research team requires a mix of expertise. Traditional recruitment methods may not be suitable, and researchers need to build good relationships with gatekeepers so that participants can be contacted directly. Good quality research with people with IDs and their families is possible once suitable strategies are employed throughout the research process.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 590-607
Author(s):  
Victoria A. Sanderson ◽  
Amanda Digel Vandyk ◽  
Ian D. Graham ◽  
Sophie Lightfoot ◽  
Mackenzie Murawsky ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Justine Rockwood ◽  
Dan Nathan-Roberts

Effective communication is critical to team performance but can be impacted by the distribution of team members. Distribution is increasingly found in high-risk environments where task complexity necessitates geographic and/or temporal separation of team members. Understanding the impact of distribution on communication is critical to ensuring effective team performance. We review the research examining communication in distributed teams in high-risk environments to provide an overview of the literature to date. Articles examining communication in distributed teams were analyzed in a systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Themes relevant to the research question were extracted from the studies using thematic analysis. Five themes were identified: updating shared mental models, effects of transmission lags, content of communication, communication protocols, and technological advances. The five themes identify directions for future research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (23-24) ◽  
pp. 4817-4837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nkiru Nnawulezi ◽  
Cris M. Sullivan ◽  
Suzanne Marcus ◽  
Latoya Young ◽  
Margaret Hacskaylo

The choice of research design affects not only internal and external validity but ecological validity as well. Ecological validity refers to the extent to which data are based in and relevant to real-world settings. One way for researchers to maximize the likelihood of achieving ecological validity is to design studies with community partners that use participatory approaches. Engaging deeply with community partners in determining what to study, how to measure constructs of interest, interpreting results, and using findings to create change is one means of conducting research that is likely to produce findings that are meaningful to communities. Conducting in-depth, participatory research within agencies providing crisis supports to individuals who have experienced trauma creates an additional level of complexity in the research process. This article presents a case example of how academic researchers and staff members of a nonprofit organization working with survivors of intimate partner violence collaborated on an evaluation of the community partner agency. As part of this process, the team members had to be continually aware of and responsive to the nature of crisis-focused work. We provide a reflexive account of the lessons learned and recommendations for future research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 414-431
Author(s):  
Oliver Rudolf Herber ◽  
Julie Barroso

Despite the proliferation of differing methods for synthesising qualitative research, Sandelowski and Barroso’s approach stands out because it is a stimulus to thinking and creativity. Yet, when applying the approach within our qualitative meta-summary and meta-synthesis project, we encountered some methodological challenges. Key aspects of the approach are outlined and juxtaposed with how we handled them in practical terms thereby entering into a methodological discussion based on the existing international research synthesis literature. For example, we encountered challenges pertaining to the researchers’ underlying epistemological assumptions, the composition of the research team, the construction of a feasible research question, the application of critical appraisal tools and the determination of an appropriate cut-off point for effect sizes to create a more parsimonious theory. From that reflective process, we draw out lessons learned for each aspect to provide neophyte researchers with valuable information that can increase the validity of future meta-syntheses projects.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Hay ◽  
Alex H. B. Duffy ◽  
Chris McTeague ◽  
Laura M. Pidgeon ◽  
Tijana Vuletic ◽  
...  

This paper reports findings from the first systematic review of protocol studies focusing specifically on conceptual design cognition, aiming to answer the following research question: What is our current understanding of the cognitive processes involved in conceptual design tasks carried out by individual designers? We reviewed 47 studies on architectural design, engineering design and product design engineering. This paper reports 24 cognitive processes investigated in a subset of 33 studies aligning with two viewpoints on the nature of designing: (V1) design as search (10 processes, 41.7%); and (V2) design as exploration (14 processes, 58.3%). Studies on search focused on solution search and problem structuring, involving: long-term memory retrieval; working memory; operators and reasoning processes. Studies on exploration investigated: co-evolutionary design; visual reasoning; cognitive actions; and unexpected discovery and situated requirements invention. Overall, considerable conceptual and terminological differences were observed among the studies. Nonetheless, a common focus on memory, semantic, associative, visual perceptual and mental imagery processes was observed to an extent. We suggest three challenges for future research to advance the field: (i) developing general models/theories; (ii) testing protocol study findings using objective methods conducive to larger samples and (iii) developing a shared ontology of cognitive processes in design.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernadette Bartlam ◽  
Jacqueline Waterfield ◽  
Annette Bishop ◽  
Melanie A. Holden ◽  
Panos Barlas ◽  
...  

This article outlines the rationale for adopting a mixed methods approach within randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and explores challenges associated in doing so. Taking the example of the EASE Back feasibility and pilot study ( Evaluating Acupuncture and Standard care for pregnant wom En with BACK pain: ISRCTN49955124), we detail why and how we operationalized a concurrent-sequential mixed methods research design. We present key findings from the exploratory research (focus groups and interviews) and explain how these were integrated with descriptive findings (a national survey of physical therapists) in order to inform and refine the design of the explanatory phase (the pilot RCT). We conclude with a discussion of lessons learned and implications for future research design and conduct.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. e026806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul L Simpson ◽  
Melanie Simpson ◽  
Armita Adily ◽  
Luke Grant ◽  
Tony Butler

ObjectiveTo summarise the extent and quality of evidence on the association between prison cell spatial density (a measure of crowding) and infectious and communicable diseases transmission among prisoners.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesEmbase, PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, PsycExtra, ProQuest Databases, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, Index to Legal Periodicals, InformitOnline, Cochrane Library, Criminal Justice Abstracts and ICONDA were searched to 31 December 2018.Eligibility criteriaStudies that reported on the association between prison cell spatial density (measured in square feet or square metres of cell floor area per person) and infectious and communicable diseases in juvenile and adult populations incarcerated in a correctional facility.Data extraction and synthesisA review protocol was developed in consultation with an advisory panel. Two reviewers independently extracted data and used the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) checklist to critically appraise individual studies. An assessment of the overall body of the evidence was conducted using the NHMRC’s Evidence Scale and Statement Form.ResultsA total of 5126 articles were initially identified with seven included in the review from Pakistan (2003), Chile (2016), Nigeria (2012, 2013) and the USA (1980s). Infectious and communicable disease outcomes included pneumococcal disease/acute pneumonia,Mycobacterium tuberculosis, latent tuberculosis infection, infectious skin conditions and contagious disease reporting to the prison clinic. Five articles reported statistically significant positive associations but were countered by associations possibly being explained by chance, bias or confounding factors. Heterogeneity prevented meta-analysis.ConclusionOverall, the body of evidence provides some support for an association between prison cell special density and infectious and communicable diseases, but care should be taken in the interpretation and transferability of the findings. Future research and policy responses should adequately consider prospective mediating factors implicated in associations between cell spatial density and health effects.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluyomi A. Osobajo ◽  
Adekunle Oke ◽  
Temitope Omotayo ◽  
Lovelin Ifeoma Obi

PurposeWhile circular economy (CE) is fast becoming a political and economic agenda for global urban development, there are still substantial knowledge gaps in possible strategies to speed up such transition, especially in the construction industry. This study analyses literature surrounding CE to unpack current trends possible future research directions to foster CE implementation in the construction industry.Design/methodology/approachThe study undertakes a systematic review of CE literature published between 1990 and 2019. It adopts a five-stage procedure as a methodological approach for the review: formulation of the research question(s), locating and identifying relevant studies, selection and evaluation of studies, analysis or synthesis and results reporting.FindingsThe findings on CE research in the construction industry show extensive focus on resource use and waste management. There are limited investigations in other areas of construction such as supply chain integration, building designs, policy, energy efficiency, land use, offsite manufacturing, whole life costing, and risk, cost reduction, cost management, health and safety management. The study findings provide evidence that current CE practice fails to incorporate other areas that would facilitate the network of true circular construction industry.Originality/valueThis research provides a comprehensive overview of research efforts on CE in the construction context, identifying areas of extensive and limited coverage over three decades. Besides, it identifies possible pathways for future research directions on CE implementation, towards the accelerated transition to a true circular construction industry for the benefit of funding bodies and researchers.


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