Social Care Research Impact

Literature Review Phase

Once you have identified the broad focus of your research it is necessary to review existing literature and knowledge. Traditionally this has been quite a solitary process, however, it is an ideal time to consider engaging stakeholders and involving them in your research, creating impact and sharing knowledge early, not waiting until outputs stage.

Consider sharing your search strategy publicly online and gathering input from stakeholders or network members, this is particularly useful if you are looking for grey literature or case study example material
Once you have most of your literature reviewed, hold an online journal club discussion around the most pertinent article, this is likely to unearth new thinking or implications that might influence your research
Building your network, online and in person, is likely to ensure you are made aware of other work in progress in your area.

Barriers

Concerns are often raised about sharing research ‘findings’ when the research is still in progress.
In-depth literature reviews are likely to have a limited audience.

Enablers

Consider sharing activity as part of your research design and include it in your proposal stage.
Consider the use of social media to keep stakeholders updated with your research and progress (see Blogging).
Consider how you can share your literature review findings with a wider audience (consider for example Comedy).

Useful Impact Methods to Integrate at this Stage

Useful Impact Management Methods to Integrate at this Stage

VMOST

Storyboarding

Stakeholder Mapping

RATWOE

Brainstorming

APESCTLE

This website arose out of activities from the Social Care Evidence in Practice project funded by the London School of Economics and Political Science’s Higher Education Innovation Fund 5. The website itself was created with funding from, and is supported by, the Personal Social Services Research Unit and the NIHR School for Social Care Research.