Self-assessment in research organizations

The main purpose of the study was the development of a self-assessment tool for research organizations to enable them to assess knowledge translation in their own settings. The development of this self-assessment tool is done based on a narrative review and subsequent focus group discussions, to design a knowledge translation model that would provide a conceptual framework for linking the different components of a knowledge translation cycle, which reported previously.Repeatability of the self-assessment domains was assessed in the 21 participants using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Each participant filled the form twice within a two-week interval. The internal consistency for each domain was estimated in the 45 study subjects using Cronbach’s alpha. This self-assessment tool is an instrument that allows stakeholders in a research organization to review their own knowledge translation activities. This tool consists of 50 statements in four domains; 1- The research question, 2- Knowledge production, 3- Knowledge transfer and 4- Promoting the use of evidence. The respective ICCs and Cronbach’s alpha for the four domains were 0.94 and 0.79 for the research question, 0.87 and 0.70 for knowledge production, 0.90 and 0.86 for knowledge transfer, 0.48 and 0.27 for promoting the use of evidence. This self-assessment tool is a way of listing the wide range of variables that affect knowledge translation at organizational level. Although the tool is intended for use by a group of people and not by individuals, it is not a survey instrument and its results should not be interpreted quantitatively. Therefore, this self-assessment tool can be useful for assessing the knowledge translation activities of each research organization, thereby identifying its shortcomings and seeking ways to improve them.