Why dissemination is important
Dissemination is the process of sharing information—particularly research findings—with different audiences, such as other researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. By using a range of channels, research can reach more people and have a greater chance of being used to address the health, social, economic and environmental challenges facing the UK.
Take a step back to think about why you are undertaking your research.
While your research may be exploratory, descriptive or explanatory in nature, you are likely trying to understand a social or biomedical phenomenon in greater detail for one of the following purposes:
- To inform future research in the field
- To improve or inform practice
- To contribute to policy debates
- To feed into research across disciplinary boundaries
These tangible outcomes can collectively be thought of as the ‘impact’ of the research, that is: “the demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy” (ESRC, 2023).
Research dissemination activities range from writing journal articles, research reports, policy briefs, and blogs to presenting at conferences, webinars and workshops.
How do you identify what will have the most impact? Find out more with our Mobilise your research section and browse our Dissemination case studies.
Dissemination case studies
Our case studies showcase impactful research dissemination by CLOSER and our partner studies.
These examples offer insights into the strategies, techniques and lessons of disseminating biomedical and social science research.
They demonstrate the significant impact that research dissemination can have on policy, practice and societal behaviours.
You can browse these case studies using the navigation links on this page.