Summative Evaluation of the Metropolis Project Phase II: Knowledge Transfer Activities and Impacts

May 2009

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Management Response

1. Introduction

• 1.1 Background
• 1.2 Context

2. Evaluation Methodology

• 2.1 Evaluation Issues and Questions
• 2.2 Methodology
• 2.3 Limitations of Methodology

3. KT and the Knowledge System Conceptual Framework

4. Findings

• 4.1 KT processes involving Metropolis researchers and federal research users
  • 4.1.1 What are the Centre processes for soliciting research priorities from federal partners & what are the federal partner processes for conveying their research needs to Centres?
  • 4.1.2 What processes are used by Centres to convey federal funding partners’ research priorities to researchers?
  • 4.1.3 Are Federal funding partners’ satisfied with the processes?
  • 4.1.4 Are federal funding partners satisfied with the outcomes?
  • 4.1.5 Knowledge Brokering – building and sustaining collaborations between researchers and research users
  • 4.1.6 Do federal funding partners access and use research products for policy making?
  • 4.1.7 Do federal funding partners support access to, and use of, research products for policy making?
• 4.2 Policy maker satisfaction with Metropolis research products & outputs
  • 4.2.1 Is Metropolis producing research products that are relevant to government policy makers?
  • 4.2.2 Have the Metropolis Centres conducted macro (incl. pan-Canadian), comparative and longitudinal studies to support policy development?
• 4.3 Impact of Metropolis Research on Policy Making

5. Conclusions

Appendix A: Evaluation Matrix

Appendix B: List of documents reviewed

Appendix C: List of interviewees

Appendix D: Federal funding partners interview guide

Appendix E: Knowledge broker functions / roles

Appendix F: Distribution of findings based on familiarity with the Metropolis Project

Appendix G: Policy Priorities for Metropolis Phase II

Acknowledgement
This report was prepared with the assistance of Government Consulting Services and Dr. Harley Dickinson, University of Saskatchewan