Communicating evidence effectively is about ensuring your research has impact. It includes knowing your audience, being strategic about how and when to reach them, as well as having a broad awareness of the different types of media and data visualization tools that are available to support presentation and dissemination of your work. The supplementary materials at the end are for optional further reading.
Key learning objectives include:
understanding your audience;
designing effective messages appropriate for different communication platforms;
understanding how to use digital tools and when best to use them;
adapting your communication strategy to engage with the media and policy-making audiences.
Methods for communicating evidence
The text resources below provide guidance and tools on how to effectively communicate research. The webpage tutorial goes into further detail on policy engagement and communicating through different forms of media including social platforms.
|
Topic |
Source |
Title |
Format |
Duration |
Cost and access |
|
Understanding your audience; effective messaging; digital tools |
International Network for Advancing Science and Policy (INASP) Please review all content in Module 4: Communicating evidence |
Text |
4 hours |
Free, no login required |
|
|
Engaging with the media; digital tools |
Linking research and public policy in Latin America (VIPPAL) - an initiative of CIPPEC Please review all content in Toolkits 3–5 3. Engage with media 4. Online tools 5. Dynamic formats to communicate research |
Text |
3 hours |
Free, no login required |
|
|
Planning and executing scientific advertising activities |
The Global Health Network (TGHN ) |
Online Course |
15 hours |
Free, login required |
Supplementary materials
All supplementary materials are optional. The text materials below provide further guidance on the principles of communicating evidence effectively, for impact, and tools to support development of a communications strategy.
|
Topic |
Source |
Title |
Format |
Duration |
Cost & Access |
|
Communication strategy; Media engagement; Policy engagement; Social media |
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) |
Text |
1 hour |
Free, no login required |
|
|
Stakeholder engagement; Effective messaging |
EVIPNet Europe |
Text |
1 hour |
Free, no login required |
|
|
Evaluating the impact of health communication interventions |
Global Health eLearning Center |
Online course |
9 hours |
Free, login required |
|
|
Challenges and good practices of communicating evidence |
International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) |
Video |
1.5 hour |
Free |
|
|
Strategies for using data to tell public health stories |
Northwest Center for Public Health Practice at The University of Washington (PH Learn Link) |
Online course |
1.5 hour |
Free |
|
|
Key concepts and examples on Infographics and Data Visualizations |
Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research |
Infographics and Data Visualization as a Communications Tool: A Two-Part Series |
Webinar series |
2 hours |
Free |
|
Using data and analytics for impact on social media |
Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research |
Webinar |
1 hour |
Free |
|
|
Building an Online Community and Getting Results on Social Media |
Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation Research |
Webinar series |
2 hours |
Free |
|
|
Communicating evidence to different audiences |
Cochrane South Africa |
Cochrane Library Evidence communicating our research to different audiences |
Webinar |
1 hour |
Free, no login required |
|
Guidance on the process, structure, and skills for professional proposal writing |
The Global Health Network (TGHN) |
Virtual workshop |
5.5 hours |
Free, no login required |
|
|
Basic principles of scientific writing and publishing |
The Global Health Network (TGHN) |
Virtual workshop |
4 hours |
Free, no login required |
|
|
Strategies for partnerships between researchers and local communities in Africa |
The Global Health Network (TGHN) |
Effective Community Engagement in Global Health Research for Sustainable Change in Africa |
Webinar |
1.5 hour |
Free, no login required |
|
Engineering science communication activities; best practices for various science communication modalities |
University of Colorado Boulder |
Online course |
4 weeks |
Free trial, 7 days |
|
|
Strategies for scientists to engage audiences with scientific information |
Illinois Tech |
Online course |
6 weeks |
Free trial, 7 days |
|
|
Translate complex technical information for non-expert audiences |
Minnesota State University |
Online course |
12 weeks |
Free trial, 7 days |
|
|
Enhance writing skills, improve communication across language barriers, and strengthen academic integrity |
Kings College London |
Academic Writing Mastery in Health Research for Non-English Speakers |
Online course |
4 weeks |
Free trial, 4 weeks |
|
Translate complex scientific evidence into clear, persuasive, and actionable messages |
WHO TDR |
Online Course |
2 hours |
Free, login required |
