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What Do Practitioners Want from Research? Exploring Ugandan and American Development Practitioners’ Interest in Research

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  • Julia Fischer-Mackey

    (Julia Fischer-Mackey is the corresponding author (JuliaFM@American.edu; JuliaMackey@gmail.com) and affiliated with School of International Service, American University, Washington, DC.)

Abstract

Are development practitioners interested in research? If so, what kinds of research interest them, and for what purposes? Is the research they have access to meeting their needs for program design and management? These questions are central to understanding why research is used (or not), yet they are often overlooked by efforts to promote development research use. I interviewed practitioners in Washington, DC and Uganda to explore how they relate to research, and I identified six types of interest in research. Understanding practitioners’ diverse interests in research, and better aligning research agendas and knowledge mobilization efforts with them, may lead to more research use and more informed development practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Julia Fischer-Mackey, 2024. "What Do Practitioners Want from Research? Exploring Ugandan and American Development Practitioners’ Interest in Research," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 24(1), pages 27-47, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:prodev:v:24:y:2024:i:1:p:27-47
    DOI: 10.1177/14649934231195721
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    References listed on IDEAS

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