Collaborative research and development: a typology of linkages between researchers and practitioners

Emerging discussions about research-practice collaboration in social work have sought to explore why collaboration and engagement are important. However, knowledge about how these collaborations unfold remains limited. The present study explored 17 collaborative research and development projects involving social work researchers and practitioners in the German speaking area (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). It aimed to capture the complexity of these collaborative projects by examining and describing the various forms that linkages between research and practice can take in social work. Data collection comprised document analysis and semi-structured interviews with researchers and practitioners involved in the projects considered. Data were analysed using open coding technique and the constant comparative method to identify emerging concepts and broader categories. This analysis enabled identification of five types of collaborative projects: Collaboration for i) scientific knowledge production; ii) the development of new procedures; iii) development of service organisations, professional practice and practitioners; iv) implementation of a specific practice; and v) support of political decision-making. Findings suggest that collaboration is influenced by the specific social welfare regime, cultural issues, as well as the configuration of, and dynamics between them in the projects.