Today, researchers and practitioners across a range of disciplines are facing an unprecedented conundrum. They are limited by the absence of critical information about their subject. This lack of information has raised alarm. Researchers and public health advocates fear that it will slow momentum in research and programs that are data dependent. The unprecedented crisis has led many organizations and advocates to discuss the best path forward through these tumultuous times.
This became clear when experts tried to collect data for the projects still underway. Key information was either lacking or poorly articulated as they found. Without accurate data, it’s been impossible to create targeted, impactful solutions. As a consequence, we often fail to reach evidence-driven conclusions. As a result, thousands of practitioners are left to wrestle with unanswered questions while trying to push the envelope on their practice.
Furthermore, this lack of granular data affects the ability to make informed decisions across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Without timely and reliable data, stakeholders will find it increasingly difficult to make smart decisions that support their vision. This can create gaps and overlaps in services, resulting in unnecessary inefficiencies and misallocation of valuable resources, potentially undermining the outcomes of hundreds of initiatives.
The troubling implication of that information gap has been noted by the researchers involved. They emphasize that equitable access to clear, complete, and connected data is a key step in creating effective solutions and policies. In the absence of concrete facts, practitioners have no choice but to guess based on anecdotal evidence or assumptions. Unfortunately, these impressions can be misleading and fail to paint a complete picture.
In answer to these challenges, many nonprofits are organizing to fill the information void. They’re looking at different ways to collect and analyze data, queerly rounding out the edges. This preventive measure ensures that future studies are based on credible findings. This leads to more thoughtful and reasoned decisions by practitioners.
Finally, teamwork between state, local and industry players has been touted as another possible answer. By collaborating and pooling resources and expertise, these organizations will likely be in a better position to collectively generate the data needed more efficiently. Collaborative work like these partnerships would greatly improve the current research environment and give a more complete picture of what’s at stake.
As the conversation develops, practitioners from many fields are working to find solutions that combat the impacts of this information gap. First and foremost, they call for greater transparency and accessibility of data. They stress the need for dissemination of results back to the university and practitioner communities. This new impetus for public dialogue could go a long way towards creating a culture of transparency where everyone gets the information they need, and everyone wins.
Leave a Reply