From knowledge to action: the potentials of knowledge portals

Abstract

In recent years, focus has been on the utilisation of research-based knowledge and evidence in social work policy and practice in order to make it more effective. A part of this process has been the launch of knowledge portals to make use of knowledge from research. In this article, we investigate how knowledge portals about vulnerable children and youth present knowledge and evidence, and how they try to work as ‘knowledge brokers’ or intermediaries of evidence. We argue that knowledge portals are not merely channels for dissemination of knowledge. Knowledge portals could be considered as part of a greater process of bringing knowledge to action, encompassing the social and organisational contexts of research utilisation. The article concludes by stating that knowledge portals have the potential to be effective instruments in knowledge-to-action processes. The two main challenges, however, are to define and communicate more clearly what is meant by ‘knowledge’, and to view knowledge portals as part of a broader strategy of knowledge use.