Research for Impact

  • 4.9
Approx. 20 hours to complete

Description

In this course, you will learn more about the Research for Impact approach - a set of principles and practices that will help you to make your research more impactful. Traditionally, the goals and outcomes of research projects were to contribute knowledge and communicate this knowledge through academic publications and journal articles. But If we truly want our research to have an impact, we need to do research differently. Research that influences change in policy, practice, behaviour and attitudes.

Knowledge

  • Understand the key interwoven elements of Research for Impact in the context of development and adaptation research.
  • Identify the suite of activities involved in Research for Impact
  • Appraise opportunities in your research plan through an Research for Impact lens and identify challenges applying a Research for Impact approach

Outline

  • Introduction to Research for Impact
  • Welcome to the course
  • Bringing about change
  • Climate change and complex systems
  • Wicked problems and adaptation research
  • What is Research for Impact?
  • Elements of Research for Impact
  • Why researchers use Research for Impact
  • Case study: India - Adaptation along the rural-urban continuum - Chandni Singh
  • Case study: Botswana - Climate change adaptation: Perceptions vs. reality - Hillary Masundire
  • Case study: India - How vulnerability and climate change impacts migration from the deltas - Sumana Banerjee
  • Meet the course team
  • What to expect in Week 1
  • Dancing with systems
  • Adaptation is a wicked problem
  • Research ethics, principles and practice
  • Research impact
  • Case study: India - Adaptation along the rural-urban continuum - Chandni Singh
  • Case study: Botswana - Climate change adaptation: Perceptions vs. reality - Hillary Masundire
  • Learning guide tips
  • Week 1 resources
  • Glossary of Acronyms
  • Research for Impact approach
  • Week 1: Research for Impact
  • Planning for Impact
  • Introduction to Week 2
  • Social change and complexity
  • Planning for change with a complexity lens
  • Impact pathways in Research for Impact
  • Understanding the system you want to influence
  • Choosing your strategies
  • Observing, reflecting and adjusting
  • Case study: Ethiopia - Mitigating the effects of Prosopis Juliflora - Mark Tebboth
  • Case study: Ethiopia - Mitigating the effects of Prosopis Juliflora - Alemayehu Zewdie
  • In conversation with Marta
  • What to expect in Week 2
  • Theory of Change
  • Gender
  • Monitoring and learning
  • Case study: Ethiopia - Mitigating the effects of Prosopis Juliflora
  • Week 2 resources
  • Engaging and Partnering
  • Introduction to Week 3
  • Strategic partnerships
  • Why should I work with stakeholders?
  • Who are my stakeholders anyway?
  • Principles of stakeholder engagement
  • Stakeholder engagement methodologies
  • Power and politics in climate change research and action
  • Case study: Ghana Using Transformative Scenario Planning to identify community problems and collaboratively develop solutions - Prince Ansah
  • Case study: Botswana - Using Transformative Scenario planning and Vulnerability Risk Assessments to include community knowledge in policymaking - Chandapiwa Molefe
  • Researchers share their practical challenges in using the Research for Impact approach
  • In conversation with Daniel
  • What to expect in week
  • Participatory processes
  • Introducing power analysis
  • Case Study: Ghana - Using Transformative Scenario Planning to identify community problems and collaboratively develop solutions - Prince Ansah
  • Case Study: Botswana - Using Transformative Scenario planning and Vulnerability Risk Assessments to include community knowledge in policymaking - Chandapiwa Molefe
  • Week 3 resources
  • Communicating for Impact
  • Introduction to Week 4
  • Why strategic communications?
  • Strategic communications and the Research for Impact elements
  • Planning for effective research communication - Part I
  • Planning for effective research communication - Part II
  • Planning for effective research communication - Part III
  • Knowledge systems, management, analysis and brokers
  • Case study: Ghana - Strategic communications for impact - Kwasi Appeaning Addo
  • In conversation with Prathigna
  • What to expect in week 4
  • Know your audience and craft your message
  • Channels - getting the message across
  • The elevator pitch
  • Case study: Ghana - Strategic communications for impact - Kwasi Appeaning Addo
  • Week 4 resources
  • Building Capacities
  • Introduction to week 5
  • Why do we need capacity development?
  • Developing researchers' capacities
  • Developing others' capacities
  • Different types and aspects of capacity development - part 1
  • Different types and aspects of capacity development - part 2
  • How to develop capacities
  • Dealing with challenges
  • Case Study India - Developing Stakeholder Capacity through games and 3D models - Renie Thomas
  • In conversation with Edmond and Amadou
  • What to expect in week 5
  • Whose capacities need to be developed?
  • Case Study India - Developing Stakeholder Capacity through games and 3D models - Renie Thomas
  • Week 5 resources
  • Capacity Development
  • Week 5: Capacity Development
  • Influencing for Impact
  • Introduction to Week 6
  • What is Power and Influence
  • Influence in Research for Impact
  • Who Are We Trying To Influence?
  • How to build an influencing strategy
  • Linking the elements in an influencing strategy
  • Case Study: Ghana - Diversifying capacity development activities to influence diverse stakeholder groups - Adiku Prosper Yaw
  • Researchers share their practical tips for using the Research for Impact approach
  • Course wrap-up and reflections
  • What to expect in week 6
  • Planning for Influence
  • Using evidence to influence policy
  • Killer facts
  • Case Study: Ghana - Diversifying capacity development activities to influence diverse stakeholder groups - Adiku Prosper Yaw
  • Week 6 resources
  • Week 6: Influencing

Summary of User Reviews

Research for Impact course on Coursera is a highly rated course that provides learners with the essential skills and knowledge to conduct research for social impact.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

Many users thought that the course was well-structured and easy to follow.

Pros from User Reviews

  • The course content is well-organized and presented in a clear and concise manner.
  • The course includes practical exercises that help learners apply the concepts learned.
  • The instructors are knowledgeable and provide helpful feedback.
  • The course provides a comprehensive overview of research methods and tools.
  • The course is suitable for beginners and experienced researchers alike.

Cons from User Reviews

  • Some learners found the course to be too basic and not challenging enough.
  • The course could benefit from more interactive elements and real-world case studies.
  • The course may require more time commitment than anticipated.
  • Some learners experienced technical difficulties with the online platform.
  • The course does not cover all research methodologies and may not be suitable for learners with specific research interests.
English
Available now
Approx. 20 hours to complete
Mark New, Jesse DeMaria-Kinney
University of Cape Town, Oxfam
Coursera

Instructor

Mark New

  • 4.9 Raiting
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