Knowledge Mobilization for Impact: A Multi-Case Study of Education Organizations

Authors

  • Sofya Malik Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22230/ijepl.2020v16n6a945

Keywords:

Research use, Research impact, Knowledge mobilization, Education policy

Abstract

Using a multi-case design, this study draws on empirical evidence and literature to analyze the knowledge mobilization approaches in educational organizations. The sample consists of four different types of education organizations in Ontario, Canada: a school board, a university, a not-for-profit, and a professional association. Data sources include publicly available websites and documents (n = 63) and key informant interviews (n = 18). Although research impact was operationalized and observed differently in these organizations, measures of impact were found to be ineffectual in all cases. This article validates the findings of existing studies that have found that there are limited instrumental uses of research, wherein research directly influences policy and practice decisions. The study calls for a careful discernment and applicability of research impact.

Author Biography

Sofya Malik, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto

Sofya Malik, PhD

Lecturer, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto

In 2016, Sofya completed a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy in the Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education at OISE. Her research focused on knowledge mobilization efforts in Ontario. Sofya is passionate about improving the classroom experience.  Sofya joined the Ontario Ministry of Education in 2015 where she has held positions as senior project lead, education officer and manager. Sofya has led several large-scale research and knowledge mobilization initiatives and, since 2006, her focus has been on bridging research, policy and practice. She collaborates with partners to build capacity that turns research into effective policy, and provides educators with tools and insights that can be effectively applied in the classroom—with the ultimate goal of improving students’ experience and success. Sofya has been a member of the Ontario College of Teachers since 2002, and has taught at the elementary and secondary school levels in Ontario and abroad. She has a Bachelor of Arts (B.A. Hon.) degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree from Queen’s University. In 2007, Sofya completed a Master of Education (M.Ed) degree in Organizational Studies at the University of Ottawa. In 2016, Sofya completed a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy at OISE at the University of Toronto. Sofya is a sessional lecturer in Educational Leadership and Policy at OISE and an online adjunct assistant professor at the faculty of education at Queen’s University. Sofya is a Canadian Citizen and speaks English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Turkish and French.

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Published

2020-04-26

How to Cite

Malik, S. (2020). Knowledge Mobilization for Impact: A Multi-Case Study of Education Organizations. International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership, 16(7). https://doi.org/10.22230/ijepl.2020v16n6a945

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 7 (2020): Knowledge Mobilization for Impact: A Multi-Case Study of Education Organizations

Section

Special Issue

License

Copyright (c) 2020 Sofya Malik

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Copyright for articles published in this journal is retained by the authors, with first publication rights granted to the journal. By virtue of their appearance in this open access journal, articles are free to use after initial publication under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 Unported License. 

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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