Employing COnceptual schema for policy and Translation Engagement in Research

Engagement is critical to contextualising and translating ideas and evidence within transdisciplinary teams. It also affords opportunities to link developments to wider communities of practice. The ÉCOUTER (Employing COnceptual schema for policy and Translation Engagement in Research) approach is being developed as part of the BioSHaRE-eu consortium on biobanking science. The project is led by Professor Madeleine Murtagh, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol.

ÉCOUTER examines critical questions faced by transdisciplinary projects by bringing together the knowledge, skills and experience of various expert stakeholders with existing bodies of evidence. Interaction takes place virtually over a period of time using online mind mapping software, the results of which are analysed throughout by a moderator to offer further insight and direction. Findings can also be used to make recommendations for areas including research, governance, practice and policy development.

ÉCOUTER is similar to other deliberative forms of engagement in that it is structured and focused. It differs in that the approach includes the active consideration and analysis of existing research evidence (quantitative and qualitative) alongside dynamic perspectives of representative stakeholders. One or more initial questions are posed, with invited participants then asked to contribute ideas, evidence and further questions. The identification of expert stakeholders and appropriate evidence are question dependent.