A framework for building relationship trust
The Assessing Research-Practice Partnerships white paper published by the William T. Grant Foundation provides a framework for assessing the extent to which a HIBAR project team cultivates partnership relationships and fosters productive collaborations during all phases of their work. The “indicators of progress” set out in the framework enable teams to develop specific assessment measures and protocols that are customized to the goals of their project.
A brief description of the assessment framework
Research-practice partnerships (RPPs) bring together experts from the research and practice communities to develop a joint research agenda to address pressing questions. RPPs have emerged as a promising strategy, but there is limited literature about how to assess the effectiveness of these partnerships. This white paper published by the William T. Grant Foundation describes a framework that comprises five dimensions for assessing RPPs, including a set of indicators for each dimension that describes where to look for evidence that an RPP is making progress on a particular dimension of effectiveness. This framework can help RPP teams develop assessment plans that will enable them to monitor and improve their work on an ongoing basis.
While the framework was developed specifically to assess research-practice partnerships, it applies broadly to HIBAR projects, and other forms of deeply collaborative community-engaged research.
This strategic action can encourage cross-sectoral co-leadership & shared decision-making:
The white paper emphasizes that strong interpersonal relationships grounded in trust are an essential aspect of effective RPPs. The authors note that such relationships are an essential foundation for productive collaborations, and that developing and maintaining relationships of trust between members of different organizations is challenging and requires significant time and commitment.
The first dimension of the framework focuses on the extent to which a project team cultivates partnership relationships and fosters productive collaborations during all phases of their work. It describes these five indicators of progress:
- Researchers and practitioners routinely work together;
- Project team members establish routines that promote collaborative decision making and guard against power imbalances;
- Team members establish norms of interaction that support collaborative decision making and equitable participation in all phases of the work;
- Team members recognize and respect one another’s perspectives and diverse forms of expertise; and
- Partnership goals take into account team members’ work demands and roles in their respective organizations.
It is intended that project teams customize this framework to the goals of their project, so that they can develop assessment plans that will enable them to monitor and improve their work on an ongoing basis.
This strategic action directly contributes to various common institutional priorities, including:
HIBAR projects enable university-based researchers and non-academic researchers and practitioners to work together on projects that strengthening commitment to research excellence and also greatly accelerate progress toward solving society’s critical problems, since co-produced research outcomes are more likely to be translated to benefit society in the long term.
Talent Development
HIBAR projects offer experiential opportunities that lead to many different career paths. This creates a positive feedback loop: as more HIBAR-experienced researchers enter the workforce, they can help co-create and co-lead more university HIBAR collaborations that in turn create new HIBAR research opportunities for another generation of faculty and students.
Learn more about the framework
Assessing Research-Practice Partnerships: Five Dimensions of Effectiveness
Henrick, E.C., Cobb, P., Penuel, W.R., Jackson, K., & Clark, T. (2017). Assessing Research-Practice Partnerships: Five Dimensions of Effectiveness. New York, NY: William T. Grant Foundation.
