Empirical research can lay the groundwork for systems change. It can sound daunting, but as clinicians, we’re well-positioned to identify research questions that can be leveraged for systems change, and we have unique skills to engage in data-gathering. The concurrent session will bring together clinicians who produce scholarship and conduct empirical research in communities where they are also advocates and activists. Many of the presenters are working with social science partners across disciplines on their empirical projects.
During this session, we will share experiences with the highs and lows of empirical research, what we wish we’d known when we started out, and how we’ve been able to use data in our work. We will break into small groups to allow for a focused discussion on topics of most concern to participants, including workshopping project ideas, identifying and working with interdisciplinary collaborators, navigating IRB processes, and securing access to data. Participants will leave having examined whether and how to pursue empirical research in their clinical teaching and scholarship to make a change.