A bridge made of books connecting a university and a community, symbolizing knowledge translation.

Bridging the Gap: How to Turn Research into Real-World Impact

Reese Marlowe in Mind & Education August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Unlock the secrets to knowledge translation and discover how communities, policymakers, and researchers can work together to make evidence-based decisions."

In today's fast-paced world, there's a growing frustration. We see countless research studies, but how many actually make a difference in our daily lives? The field of knowledge translation (KT) seeks to answer this question, focusing on how we can effectively apply research findings to improve individual lives, strengthen communities, and inform policy decisions. It's about moving knowledge out of the lab and into the real world.

A new book, "Knowledge Translation in Context: Indigenous, Policy and Community Settings," tackles this very challenge. Edited by Elizabeth M. Banister, Bonnie J. Leadbeater, and E. Anne Marshall, the book dives deep into the barriers and facilitators of knowledge translation, offering practical examples and strategies for bridging the gap between research and practice. It emphasizes a crucial shift: valuing community experience and contextual knowledge alongside academic research.

This isn't just a theoretical discussion. The book is a call to action, urging academics, practitioners, and policymakers to work together to ensure that research truly benefits the people it's intended to serve. It's about creating a more collaborative and responsive research ecosystem where knowledge is shared, adapted, and applied to address real-world problems.

Understanding Knowledge Translation: Key Principles and Practices

A bridge made of books connecting a university and a community, symbolizing knowledge translation.

So, what exactly is knowledge translation? The book adopts the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) definition, expanding it to encompass all populations. The core idea is that KT is context-dependent and context-sensitive. This means that effective knowledge translation requires understanding the specific needs, values, and circumstances of the communities involved. It's not a one-size-fits-all approach.

The book highlights the social disparities that exist within communities and the power imbalances that can hinder effective communication between researchers and those who could benefit from their work. It emphasizes the importance of building trust, fostering open dialogue, and recognizing the expertise that resides within communities themselves. This collaborative approach is essential for ensuring that research is relevant, accessible, and truly impactful.

The book is divided into three key parts, each offering valuable insights and practical strategies:

Community-University Contexts: Explores how academics and community organizations can forge strong partnerships to promote evidence-based decision-making, even with limited resources.
Policy Contexts: Examines the challenges of translating research findings into public policy and offers concrete suggestions for engaging policymakers with research.
Indigenous Contexts: Focuses on improving knowledge translation with Indigenous communities by acknowledging cultural realities and employing integrated knowledge translation methodologies.

Let's take a closer look at some of the key themes explored in each section.

Empowering Communities Through Knowledge Translation

"Knowledge Translation in Context" offers a powerful framework for librarians, community practitioners, and researchers alike. By understanding the barriers and facilitators of KT, we can work together to bridge the "knowing-doing" gap and ensure that research truly benefits the communities it's intended to serve. It's a call to build stronger partnerships, foster open dialogue, and empower communities to make informed decisions based on the best available evidence.

About this Article -

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Everything You Need To Know

What is Knowledge Translation, and why is it important?

Knowledge translation (KT) aims to bridge the gap between research findings and real-world applications. It focuses on moving knowledge from academic settings into practical use to improve lives, strengthen communities, and inform policy decisions. It involves understanding the barriers and facilitators that impact the use of research in different contexts.

What key principles are essential for effective Knowledge Translation, according to "Knowledge Translation in Context: Indigenous, Policy and Community Settings?"

The book emphasizes understanding specific needs, values, and circumstances of the communities involved. Effective knowledge translation is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Social disparities and power imbalances exist. Building trust, fostering open dialogue, and recognizing expertise within communities are essential. Collaborative approaches ensure research relevance, accessibility, and impact.

How is "Knowledge Translation in Context: Indigenous, Policy and Community Settings" structured to address the challenges of translating research into practice?

The book, "Knowledge Translation in Context: Indigenous, Policy and Community Settings," is divided into three key parts. The first explores how academics and community organizations can forge strong partnerships to promote evidence-based decision-making. The second examines the challenges of translating research findings into public policy. The third focuses on improving knowledge translation with Indigenous communities by acknowledging cultural realities and employing integrated knowledge translation methodologies.

How does "Knowledge Translation in Context: Indigenous, Policy and Community Settings" build upon the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) definition of Knowledge Translation?

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) definition of knowledge translation is context-dependent and context-sensitive, meaning that KT requires understanding the specific needs, values, and circumstances of the communities involved. However, the book expands on this definition by applying it to all populations, addressing social disparities and power imbalances, and emphasizing the importance of building trust and fostering open dialogue.

How does "Knowledge Translation in Context" empower communities through Knowledge Translation, and what impact does this have?

"Knowledge Translation in Context" provides a framework for librarians, community practitioners, and researchers. By understanding the barriers and facilitators of KT, we can bridge the 'knowing-doing' gap. Building stronger partnerships, fostering open dialogue, and empowering communities to make informed decisions based on evidence are crucial for healthier, more informed communities. It encourages academics, practitioners, and policymakers to work collaboratively to ensure that research benefits the intended population.