engleski

Is practice-friendly science possible: a case study?

As it is well known, translating research results into practice in many areas is more difficult than doing research. That is why the gap that exists between research and practice is often described through so called negative metaphors like „strangers in the night" ; „chasm" ; „less travelled road" ; „massy enterprise", etc. Our experience in applying results gained through project Matching interventions with the needs of children and youth at risk: creating a model into Croatian child care policy and practice is in some way consistent with those ideas. It is going to be presented as a case study of translating research results into practice through building practice-friendly science. Main goal of the project was to propose a model of interventions based on psychosocial risk and intervention needs of children and youth at risk to develop serious behavioural problems. Main results are connected to the standardization of three instruments for assessment of psychosocial risk and intervention needs for use in Croatian child care system, as well as screening characteristics of children and youth included in existing residential and community based interventions regarding psychosocial risks, strengths and intervention needs. In accordance with research data, some recommendations for improving existing system of interventions were made. Primarily they are related to the need to introduce assessment of positive developmental assets (strengths), as well as acceptance of standardized approach to risk assessment, as a criterion for intervention choice. Further on, they are related to the recognition of very specific intervention needs of younger children, adolescent girls, high risk prone adolescent boys with multiple, combined externalized and internalized behavioural problems. Generally speaking, while the research is still in progress knowledge translation is less demanding, concentrated on informing practice. When the research ends adoption and implementation of results are expected. So, the challenges of translation are wider and more present afterwards than during research.

translation of results into practice; challenges; practice friendly science

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