Biography
I am a Reader in Management in the Department of Management and Director of Impact and Innovation for the University of St Andrews Business School. I have a passion for bringing people working in knowledge mobilisation together and supporting people to make a difference with research. Outside the department I lead the RURU Network (Researching and Understanding Research Use) and chair the UK Knowledge Mobilisation Forum, an annual event for knowledge mobilisation researchers and practitioners.
Before branching out into knowledge mobilisation research, I had a career as a clarinet teacher and ran my own teaching practice. Find out how (and why) I made the move into knowledge mobilisation on my blog. Outside my academic life I am a qualified Summer Mountain Leader and spend as much time outside as possible.
Teaching
- MN3202 Research Methods 2
- MN4241 Creating, managing and using knowledge in organisations
- MN4301 Management Project
- MN5499 Dissertation
Research areas
My area of research is 'knowledge mobilisation' – focusing on how groups of people (including practitioners, managers, decision makers and researchers) create and share knowledge with one another. I am particularly interested in the use of knowledge-related frameworks to guide action and thinking.
My research portfolio includes work on knowledge brokering in a range of settings and I have undertaken research on parliamentary research services, embedded researchers, research-policy partnerships, and interprofessional working.
Selected publications
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Open access
Embedding researchers into organisations: a study of the features of embedded research initiatives
Ward, V., Davies, H. T. O., Reid, B., Tooman, T. R. & Marshall, M., Nov 2021, In: Evidence & Policy. 17, 4, p. 593-614 22 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
A framework to support the design and cultivation of embedded research initiatives
Ward, V., Tooman, T. R., Reid, B., Davies, H., O'Brien, B., Mear, L. & Marshall, M., Nov 2021, In: Evidence & Policy. 17, 4, p. 755-769 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Naturopaths’ mobilisation of knowledge and information in clinical practice: an international cross-sectional survey
Steel, A., Leach, M., Brosnan, C., Ward, V. & Lloyd, I., 6 Aug 2021, In: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. 21, 12 p., 205.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Using frameworks and models to support knowledge mobilization
Ward, V., 2019, The Role of Knowledge Brokers in Education. Malin, J. & Brown, C. (eds.). Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 168-181Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Open access
Knowledge Translation: Key Concepts, Terms and Activities
Rushmer, R., Ward, V., Nguyen, T. & Kuchenmüller, T., 2019, Population health monitoring: Climbing the information pyramid. Verschuuren, M. & van Oers, H. (eds.). Springer Nature, p. 127-150Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Development of REsources based on reasonable adjustments to MAINstream diabetes and obesity care for adults with a learning disability: The REMAIN project
Russell, A. M., Bryant, L., House, A., Ward, V., Stones, C. & Witty, K., Mar 2019, In: Diabetic Medicine. 36, S1, p. 112-112 1 p., P250.Research output: Contribution to journal › Abstract › peer-review
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Open access
Creating and implementing local health and wellbeing policy: networks, interactions and collective knowledge creation amongst public sector managers
Ward, V., Smith, S., Keen, J., West, R. & House, A., Aug 2018, In: Evidence & Policy. 14, 3, p. 477-498 22 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Mentoring as an intervention to promote gender equality in academic medicine: a systematic review
House, A., Dracup, N., Burkinshaw, P., Ward, V. & Bryant, L. D., 26 Jan 2021, In: BMJ Open. 11, 1, 11 p., e040355.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
To what extent can behaviour change techniques be identified within an adaptable implementation package for primary care? A prospective directed content analysis
ASPIRE programme team, 17 Feb 2018, In: Implementation Science. 13, 1, 32.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Good practice or positive action? Using Q methodology to identify competing views on improving gender equality in academic medicine
Bryant, L. D., Burkinshaw, P., House, A. O., West, R. M. & Ward, V., 22 Aug 2017, In: BMJ Open. 7, 8, 9 p., e015973.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review