1. Exeter Policing, Evidence and Research Translation Project (ExPERT)
Individual & Organisational Capacity Building through ‘Making Sense of Evidence’ Workshops
Dr. Katharine Boyd, University of Exeter
DCI Neil Ralph, Devon & Cornwall Police

2. Structure of ‘Making Sense of Evidence’ Workshops’
Day 1 (Location: Devon & Cornwall Police Headquarters)
Official Welcome & Introductions
Why Evidence and Research Matter
Asking Research Questions
What Constitutes ‘Good’ Evidence?
Paired breakout sessions: 1) ‘What and Whether’ Studies 2)‘How and Why Studies’
Wrap up and ‘homework’ assignment
Day 2 (Location: University of Exeter, Streatham Campus)
Introduction
Paired breakout sessions: 1) How to Determine ‘What Works’ 2) Where to Find Evidence for Evidence-Based Policing
Small group session: Doing Evidence-Based Research
Ethics in Research
Focus on Local Practice and Use of Evidence
Looking Forward in Relation to Evidence-Based Policing

3. The Organisational Change Process

4. Individual Capacity Building: Pre-Post Workshop Results
80 workshop participants completed a paper-and-pencil evaluation form immediately following the workshop.
Post-workshop, participants were asked to rate their knowledge, skills, and confidence before and after the workshop (i.e., a retrospective pre-test) * * *
Sample size: 80
* Statistically significant difference

5. Individual Capacity Building: Action Plans
75 workshop participants completed EBP action plans detailing up to three actions they intended to take forward into practice and what they would need to complete each one.
Of the 45 workshop participants who responded to a follow-up survey, 75% stated that the progress on their action plans were underway.
ACTION PLAN
THEMES
FREQUENCY
OF THEME
To search for research evidence or investigate sources of data/info.
27%
To use EBP to approach a new research project or area of work
19%
To share learning and champion EBP
18%
To build EBP into my daily practice/the practice of my team
16%
To network or collaborate with others 9%
To challenge or review current ways of working 7%
To undertake training or a professional research qualification 3%

6. Organisational Capacity Building: EBP Audit
EBP audit was a survey where workshop participants rated how well they felt their organisation supported EBP.
The survey was adapted from one used by Research in Practice (2012) within the social care sector.
Respondents rated their agreement on a five-point scale (from ‘1-strongly agree’ to ‘5-strongly disagree’)
Devon & Cornwall Workshop Attendees
Sample size: 57 (of 61 D&C workshop attendees)

7. Capacity Building: Facilitators & Barriers Activity
Workshop attendees were asked to highlight and categorise barriers and facilitators under one of three themes.
Goal of activity was to encourage discussion and problem-solving amongst attendees around embedding EBP within their organisation.
BARRIERS
FACILITATORS
Organisational Culture
Lack of resources
Limited management support
Unwillingness to change
(small-p) politics
Presence of resources
Management support
Need/desire for evidence
Willingness/recognition of need to change
Individual Characteristics
Limited time
Lack of skills
Resistance to change
Knowledge/understanding/skills
Willingness to change
Flexible/protected time
Networks & Processes
Lack of access to data/information
Not sharing information
Lack of knowledge/training
Resources
Communication and support between Forces, multi-agency working, College of Policing
Knowledge/training