Transforming Research: Innovative Ways to Democratize Knowledge through Research Podcasts

The Grand Challenges for Social Work prioritize the caliber and visibility of social work research (Singer, 2019; Fong et al., 2018; Gehlert et al., 2017), however the impact of scholarship remains primarily valued through conventional practices of publishing articles. Podcasts can be used to democratize knowledge as a form of digital asynchronous media files that are downloadable, and can assist with disseminating research to diverse populations through multiple free accessible platforms (Fronek et al, 2016; Blok & Godsk, 2009, p.118). Researchers traditionally publish articles in journals, however podcasts can be the digital audio file of the research article. Podcasting can be used as a tool with a social justice lens to recenter the community voices for knowledge creation, dissemination, and generation of new questions to ask. Podcasts have become commonplace in universities as a method to engage with students (Abdous et al. 2012; Fronek et al, 2016) and have the opportunity to be the bridge between research, theory, and practice.

Researchers at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work within the research office, currently host The Action Research Podcast. Presenters hope this roundtable provides instruction on the creation and implementation of a podcast which will lead to an increase in the impact of published articles while eliciting new funding opportunities for faculty. In line with the podcast's vision to disseminate information to a broader audience, it was imperative that the team include an open feedback loop from listeners. This offers a unique and transformative approach that reduces hierarchical relationships and creates an increase in dialogue, reflection, and mutual learning. Objectives of the presentation include: 1. Understanding how podcasting of research articles can be a bridge across theory, policy, and practice. 2. Explore how podcasts allow for knowledge creation in a decentralized manner by fostering engagement and interaction through a variety of audiences thus creating further reach and accessibility. 3. Learn through dynamic conversation how podcasting can be a cost effective, flexible way to disseminate research to community partners, community members, and promote the social work identity. This approach to research podcasting disrupts the flow of the entire research process from conceptualization, creation, collection, analysis and dissemination. The presenters include two doctoral students and two MSW students who will begin the presentation with creating a research podcasting goal that amplifies and recenters community voices. Then, presenters will discuss the process of podcasting as a tool to address power and privilege inequity that occurs between researchers and participants in order to democratize knowledge in a more accessible manner. During the interactive portion of the presentation, presenters will break down steps on how to intentionally create a podcast with research at the forefront. Audience members will come out of the session with an outline of their own possible research centered podcast to influence social science procedures for the next 30 years. The presentation will be used as a learning tool with a social justice lens for faculty and students to take back and implement at their institutions.