Prof Mankwane Daisy Maria Makofane from the Department of Social Work in the College of Human Sciences recently delivered her inaugural lecture entitled Reinvigoration of the dissemination and implementation of social work doctoral research findings: footprints for the future.

Research, she said, is the backbone of social work knowledge and practice. Hence, doctoral education is one of the main sources of knowledge production in universities. However, discussions are limited on the dissemination and implementation of knowledge generated through doctoral research.

Therefore, she conducted a qualitative study to explore and describe the dissemination of research findings and use of practice recommendations among 31 doctoral graduates. Online communication was used to solicit information from these graduates.

Prof Makofane said evidence suggests that the publication of research findings and implementation of recommendations seemed to be a mere afterthought. “No advanced planning for these processes was made. Although research results were publicised through various modes, little was reported on the application of practice recommendations.

“Sixteen graduates published several articles from their theses, 10 conducted workshops with target groups, 10 applied practice recommendations, while four published the findings and applied their recommendations.”

She said graduates proposed that supervisors should provide mentorship after graduation to offer guidance and support during the dissemination of the research findings, and implementation of practice recommendations. Her study also calls for an Indaba to develop a framework for the dissemination and use of recommendations through newly established research networks.

Click here to read the lecture based on her studies.

* Compiled by Rivonia Naidu-Hoffmeester (CHS communications and marketing)