Working With Us
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DECIPHer Adopted studies
DECIPHer has developed an established frameworkand system of Research Development Groups (RDGs) to support coproduction of new studies and maximise their impact. A prerequisite of any supported RDG is multi-disciplinary, multi-agency membership and a high level of stakeholder involvement. This approach ensures continuous collaboration in the development of bids and supports ecological relevance; it optimises system fit for subsequent research studies and promotes enhanced translation of knowledge into practice. The registration process involves an initial discussion with one of our team and with their advice the completion of a DECIPHer adoption form. [sm1] The DECIPHer Partnership Board will then consider whether the study can be adopted or affiliated and if so the level of support that DECIPHer can offer.
We are always keen to discuss new research ideas and possibilities for collaboration. If you work in public health policy or practice and would like to be involved in research relevant to DECIPHer’s aims, we would be pleased to hear from you. Please email us at DECIPHer@Cardiff.ac.uk or contact the programme lead for your area of interest to discuss how we can work together.
Working at DECIPHer
DECIPHer’s multidisciplinary community provides an excellent environment for public health researchers at all career stages to thrive. They join a world leading public health research centre, benefit from our unique skills and resources, strong relationships with other DECIPHer institutions and an extensive network of policy and practice partners, and DECIPHer’s tailored capacity development programme for researchers. DECIPHer staff are also part of a wider community conducting high-quality public health research.
Studying at DECIPHer
DECIPHer provides a supportive multidisciplinary research environment, with a strong emphasis on engagement with policy and practice in applied public health improvement research. A list of current projects being undertaken by students working with DECIPHer can be found on our People page.
Working with policy and practice
DECIPHer aims to lead collaboration and knowledge exchange between researchers, policy-makers and practitioners in public health improvement.
Our policy and practice collaborators have unique experience and expertise. Using this throughout the research process helps us to do better research, and allows the evidence we produce to be used more easily to improve public health.
Co-producing research ideas and projects means these address the questions that are relevant and important to policy and practice.
Working together to plan and conduct the research helps ensure it is carried out in a way that is acceptable to policy-makers and practitioners – the people who will ultimately be using the research.
Input from policy and practice ensures that the research evidence we produce is communicated in the most useful way.
For more on how DECIPHer builds collaboration into its work, and how it strengthens the work we do, see our collaboration case studies below.
How do we work with policy and practice?
Ideas for DECIPHer research projects come from academia, policy and practice. Research ideas are developed into funded projects through research development groups – small working groups, typically consisting of researchers, policy-makers and practitioners.
A research development group crystallises the initial idea into a specific research question, develops an appropriate research design, and bids for grant funding. This enables policy and practice partners to be fully involved in developing DECIPHer research from the very beginning.
We are always keen to discuss new research ideas and possibilities for collaboration. If you work in public health policy or practice and would like to be involved in research relevant to DECIPHer’s aims, we would be pleased to hear from you. Please email us at DECIPHer@Cardiff.ac.uk or contact the programme lead for your area of interest to discuss how we can work together.
Collaborating with DECIPHer
What is it like to work with us? We asked three of our key collaborators to tell us about their experiences
‘I’ve been impressed by DECIPHer’s collaborative approach to developing ideas for research.‘
I spend one day a week in the DECIPHer office. My work with DECIPHer is mostly on school-based health research; I oversee the Welsh Network of Health Promoting Schools programme, which works closely with DECIPHer’s School Health Research Network. I also oversee the delivery of ASSIST, a peer-led smoking prevention programme, in schools in Wales. More generally, I help to link the work of DECIPHer with the policy and practice priorities of the public health system in Wales, putting together people who have common interests. Working with DECIPHer has allowed me to develop my personal research interests while strengthening the link between Public Health Wales and higher education institutions in Wales.
The overall aim of my collaboration with DECIPHer is to strengthen the use of evidence to inform practice – whether by helping to disseminate research findings so that knowledge is used in practice, or securing research expertise to evaluate interventions delivered by Public Health Wales. The partnership helps to ensure that the action we take as a public health organisation has a demonstrable impact on the health of people in Wales, and is really starting to show results.
I’ve been impressed by DECIPHer’s collaborative approach to developing ideas for research. There is a strong commitment to recognising the input that practice partners make to generating good research proposals, and also to ensuring that the work that is done has relevance and will be used.
I think the key strengths of DECIPHer are the willingness to work with partners in a range of sectors and the emphasis on finding out what works using the most rigorous scientific approaches possible. I have found the team to be incredibly welcoming and the whole experience has been a really positive one for me.
‘A critical mass of people interested in applying social science theory and methods to policy relevant research‘
I’ve worked on a number of DECIPHer projects in recent years. I’m currently involved in the ASSIST+Frank drug prevention study, the Filter project on smoking prevention in further education settings, a synthesis of research on positive youth development, an RCT of the ‘learning together’ restorative approach in schools. I also chair the trial steering committee for Project SFP Cymru, DECIPHer’s trial of the Strengthening Families Programme in Wales.
DECIPHer’s key strength is that it has a critical mass of people interested in applying social science theory and methods to policy relevant research – particularly research focusing on young people – and strong links with policy and practice. Working with DECIPHer has been positive for me in terms of producing grant funding and papers, whilst working with decent people.
‘It’s not just what is done, but also the way DECIPHer operates, that is and will have an impact
on the health of the Welsh population.‘
I am part of the team that has launched the School Health Research Network. Similarities between the mandates of DECIPHer and the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact led us to explore a collaborative project that highlights potential cross-fertilisation between the centres. Given the work I have been involved in on the School Health Action, Planning and Evaluation System in Canada, DECIPHer’s new School Health Research Network seems to be the perfect vehicle.
I’m impressed with the dual focus at DECIPHer: research excellence, and building partnerships across policy, practice and research to capitalize on the strengths of each. I also appreciate the care that is taken with individuals with whom DECIPHer interacts. It’s not just what is done, but also the way DECIPHer operates, that is and will have an impact on the health of the Welsh population. In the case of the School Health Research Network, this can be seen in the strength of both the scientific team (international in calibre, various disciplinary perspectives) and the people ‘on the ground’, who interact day to day with the schools and government. All are very well connected, no one sits in an ivory tower.
The most important outcome of my work with DECIPHer will be stronger efforts to support the development of healthy school communities both in Britain and in Canada. This increased capacity will be a result of the joint contributions of research, practice and policy perspectives, and more effective linkage across them.