Research Helps Us To...
The Research Program
What Does the Research Program Do?
Key Theme Areas
Key Goals of the Research Program
Research Program Team
Functions of the Research Program
Project Approval
Thank You!

Research Publications

Measures, Tools, and Resources Developed 

Research Helps Us To...

• find answers to questions and issues that are important to our clients and families
• improve our understanding of childhood disabilities and the issues they raise
• improve the services we provide
• decide if a treatment/intervention works

The Research Program

The Research Program at Thames Valley Children's Centre's (TVCC) started in 1988. TVCC believes that research and evaluation activities are an important part of providing quality services and interventions to our clients and their families.

TVCC's approach to research development is multi-faceted and needs-based approach, with an emphasis on program evaluation, where clinicians and researchers partner to evaluate services. Other types of research are also supported, including knowledge generation and sharing activities. The model is based on having staff with a high level of research expertise available to work with leadership and staff from across the Centre.

What Does the Research Program Do?

We provide research services (direct and consultation services, education, and resources) to TVCC staff members, and collaborate with internal and external partners on research projects with the ultimate aim of improving the community participation and quality of life for children with disabilities and their families.

Good research gives us information that helps us to do things better. Thoughtful, well designed and relevant clinical research provides answers to our questions, clarifies issues, gives direction, and helps us to be accountable to clients, families, the community, and funders.

Key Theme Areas

The Research Program focuses on two strategic research directions that are relevant and meaningful to clients, their families, and service providers:

1. Evaluating programs, interventions, and aspects of service delivery.
   
2. Investigation of psychosocial aspects of disabilities. Examining the social and emotional (psychosocial) needs and outcomes of clients and their families. For example, studying and finding better ways of delivering care may lessen the impact (i.e., stress) of the child's disability on the child, family, and its individual members. Psychosocial research may also help children and families to develop the skills needed to adjust and function with minimum distress.

Key Goals of the Research Program

• Create a strong research climate that promotes TVCC staff members' awareness, enthusiasm, and participation in research and evaluation, and that fosters ongoing critical appraisal of therapeutic effectiveness as well as increased understanding of the psychosocial aspects of physical disabilities and interventions.
  
• Provide resources and ongoing, individualized support to therapists conducting research.
  
• Share/disseminate research and evaluation findings internally and externally to other children's rehabilitation centres and at professional conferences.

Research Program Team

• The Director of Community and Clinical Information Resources provides overall direction to the Research Program and is responsible for the administrative aspects of the Program.
  
• The Centre Researchers consult with, educate, and assist staff about doing research or research-informed clinical practice, coordinate and implement research studies, and collaborate on research projects with internal and external partners.
  
• The Research Officer coordinates administrative aspects of the Research Program, organizes the communication of research information, develops resources and information systems, documents and tracks all research activities, and acts as a resource to researchers.
  

Functions of the Research Program

The Research Program Team members assist staff with research-related education, through direct involvement, consultation, education, and the provision of resources.

Direct and Consultation Services
Services include providing advice on and carrying out all aspects of the research/evaluation process (e.g., formulating a research question, designing a questionnaire, analysing data, selecting an agency to apply to for funding, selecting a journal for submission of a manuscript).

Research Program team members also provide feedback on research materials written by TVCC staff members such as questionnaires, completed grant application forms, presentation materials, and articles for publication.

Education
Information sessions are arranged in which staff members share the results of TVCC research projects and discuss recently published research findings. These sessions encourage awareness, critical evaluation, and utilization of findings from the research literature. They also provide a forum for staff to maximize the impact of findings on clinical practice by sharing findings with staff members from other TVCC programs.

Resources
Research Program team members provide general information and resources on how to approach all aspects of the research/evaluation process (e.g., how to formulate a research question, critically appraise the literature, evaluate measures, write a research proposal, and apply for grants).

Project Approval  

The Research Program also ensures that all internal and external research projects wishing to involve TVCC clients, and their families are first approved by TVCC's Research Advisory Committee (and a university ethics review committee).

Guidelines also exist to ensure client confidentiality in research studies, and to ensure that TVCC staff members make the initial contact with parents and clients when their participation is sought in a research study. (See: Project Approval section of the website for more details).

Thank You!

We would like to acknowledge the contributions of the many individuals who are involved in making sure that research at TVCC is meaningful and of high quality.

Sincere thanks are extended to:

• The investigators on staff - who pose important research questions and contribute time, energy, and commitment to finding the answers.
  
• The clients and families - who share their experiences and provide their valuable time and insights.
  
• Our collaborators - who contribute their expertise and important new perspectives.
  
• The TVCC's Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, and Program Directors - who provide their support to research.
  
• The Research Advisory Committee - who ensure that our research is of the highest quality.